Harry, who was seated facing the river, suddenly sprang up and excitedly grasped the Professor's arm, as he pointed across the river: "Look at that light!"
There, plainly in the distance, was a light, not stationary, but flickering, and, apparently, moving slightly to and fro.
"It seems as though it is at the edge of the woods," remarked George. The distance was fully a half mile away.
"It can't be possible that people are over there," said Harry, not so much in a tone of inquiry as of surprise. "How far do you think it is from here?"
"Probably one-half mile, or more. We might be able to learn something if we should fire a gun," was the Professor's reply.
The boys were naturally astonished at the boldness of this remark. Other lights now appeared, some dim, others brighter. The firing of a gun seemed to them a most hazardous thing to do, but no doubt the Professor had a reason for making the suggestion.
It was quite a time before either of the boys responded to this proposal. In their minds it was a daring enterprise.
"If we should fire a gun the noise would likely startle them, and the first impulse of the savages would be to extinguish the lights."
George, who had the spirit of adventure more strikingly developed than Harry, was the first to concur.
"I am going to try it at any rate; we might just as well know what we have to face now, as later on."