The boys retreated behind their shelter, and sat down to rest and recover from the excitement of the last fifteen minutes.
Meanwhile, what were the savages beyond doing? Consternation seemed to seize them. They ran back and forth, and shouted to their companions in peril, and Ralph and Tom both tried to make out the meaning of the warning cries, but were not sufficiently versed in their jargon to comprehend.
"Well, boys, we have kicked up a pretty serious muss, and we might as well give up the boat."
Tom, who seemed to have some very good ideas, suggested a plan that had considerable merit, and they were now considering it.
"My scheme is this: Let us now make a show of retreating into the interior to the west, covering our tracks as best we can. Then turn to the north, for a mile or two, and go back to the river and cross, and then make for home as fast as we can travel."
"That is a first-class plan," was Harry's reply; "but I think two of us should remain here in order to keep up a show. We can exhibit ourselves at intervals, while the wagon is proceeding on its way, and the moment the wagon reaches the river, those with it can get the floats ready, so that when the scouts reach the wagon it will be ready to cross."
Ralph and Harry volunteered to act as the rear guard, and the wagon went forward, making a wide detour to the north and finally veered around to the east, reaching the river fully a mile below. Fortunately, a lot of driftwood was in convenient reach, and the spot was hidden by a bend in the stream, so that it was not at all likely the savages would see them from their low position at the river bank.
The wagon was on the brink of the stream, and the logs ready, still the boys in the rear did not appear.
"Don't you think I had better go back and let the boys know we are ready?"
"Yes, Tom, and tell them to hurry."