“We wet,” he said. “You give coat, eh?”
Bill hesitated, but Tom, with a sudden inspiration, threw aside the covering with a generous wave of his hand. The man seemed surprised but took the garment away and the trio of Indians used it.
“Now,” said Bill, “they’ll demand everything we’ve got.”
“Maybe,” said Tom, “but we can stave them off at least until we get out of this ticklish place. If we get them mad, away up here, they could push us off the side, before we could wake up from sleep. We ought to keep them quiet till we get to a better place.”
“I think they want to rob us and desert us?” Bill hazarded.
“So do I,” Tom agreed. “But as long as we keep our pistols and your rifle, it will be all safe; we can take turns watching at night.”
They did, and Tom, on watch that night, noticed a creeping figure, coming close to their soggy mosquito protection, but made no sign. He told Bill, when the later awoke, and they redoubled their watchfulness.
The next day they went on and came into a high, and rough, but fairly level plateau where they camped. Bill managed to shoot a wild pig and it was roasted for dinner. With some biscuit made of flour, salt and water, and with cocoa, they made a regular feast.
“The men are planning something,” Tom whispered, after the meal. “See how they look at one another!”
“Well, let’s just be ready!”