They knew that they were close to their destination, now just a week's journey away.
They weren't going to take the chance that the Palatkans would turn on them, as well.
Tomorrow they would circle the strip, endeavouring to avoid further injuries and wear to their bodies.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
It was in the morning during the men's second wave of sleep that was coming over them in the before-dawn hours, that a cawing shriek was heard coming from overhead.
The sun wasn't out yet, although it wasn't totally dark.
The men had, at least one hour of sleep left to them before they were to wake and make their way around the strip. At first they tried to ignore that squawking but it soon became so frantic and intense that they could no longer bare it.
Boyce's slight affection for the single crow he had seen flying around, during their journey, was quickly waning and he quickly sat up to see where it was and shoo it away.
He opened his eyes and saw six male figures standing around the opening of the den.
"Lloyd, we're surrounded!" Boyce screamed out to him and Lloyd quickly sprang to his feet when he saw them.