“But the worst is yet to come,” laughed Frank, simply to hear Jerry groan, and not because he really believed it to be the case.
A short time later they were tempted to enter the depths of the timber again to investigate some curious formation that Frank believed might be an Indian mound.
“I’d like to dig into it some time, and satisfy my curiosity,” he declared.
“It makes a bully support for a fellow’s tired back, I know,” said Jerry, as he spread himself upon the ground.
“Well, take a little rest, then, while I examine that other rise over there. It looks larger than this one, and if my suspicions prove true there ought to be a jolly lot of relics dug out of these mounds.”
“All right, Frank, I’m agreeable. Don’t forget me, and go back to camp alone, you know,” said Jerry, laughing, as he stretched himself out.
“I declare if the fellow isn’t thinking of taking another nap. Well, we may see fit to keep you on duty the whole of to-night, so prepare yourself.”
With which warning Frank walked away. He arrived at the larger mound, and was so deeply interested in examining the same that the minutes crept along unheeded. He heard the cries of hawks quarreling in some nearby tree; then again sounds as of small animals snarling came from the brush beyond; but Frank paid little heed to any of these things.
Finally he aroused himself.
“Come, this won’t do. I must get back to Jerry, and we’ll have to do some hustling to reach the camp by dusk,” he exclaimed.