"I don't want to monopolize all the fun," he said laughingly, "therefore you boys had better take turns until we get enough for supper. To-night we'll ask Poyor to cut another pole, and then both can enjoy the sport at the same time."

The fish were smaller than those previously taken and half an hour elapsed before there were enough on the sh.o.r.e to make up what c.u.mmings believed was sufficient for a hearty meal.

Then the three walked slowly toward the entrance to relieve Jake; but, to the surprise of all, he was not there.

"It is my fault," Neal cried while c.u.mmings was looking around in the belief that the sentinel had gone to another portion of the cave and would soon be back. "I knew from what was said this forenoon that he had an idea of venturing out, and made up my mind to watch him closely; but the history lesson and the fishing caused me to forget it entirely."

"Do you mean that he has had an idea of leaving us?" c.u.mmings asked in astonishment.

"No; he simply proposed to take a walk. He thinks it is as safe for him as for Poyor."

"But I, who surely understand the woods better than he, would not dare to attempt it."

"You know what he has done."

"If he does not lose his own life ours may be sacrificed," c.u.mmings said pa.s.sionately. "The Indian can go through the undergrowth without leaving any sign of his pa.s.sage: but for Jake to do so is simply to set up a guide-board by which the enemy can find us."

"I should have told you at once," Neal said in self reproach.

"You are not to be blamed in the slightest; but if I could get my hands on him at this moment he would regret most sincerely ever having such a thought in his head."

"What will be the result?" Teddy asked in distress.

"If he succeeds in finding his way back, which I doubt very much, we will be forced to make a change regardless of the consequences, and if he is captured it becomes a case of our putting the greatest possible distance between this cave and ourselves," c.u.mmings replied bitterly.

"I might go out and try to find him," Neal suggested, and his companion put an end to any such idea by saying impatiently:

"Your efforts to aid him would only result in making our own position just so much the worse. We must wait until Poyor comes back, and learn what he has to say in regard to the affair."

"But it seems cruel to let him run into danger without saying a word."

"It is not half as bad as it is for him to jeopardize all our lives. He did the same thing once before, and the consequence was that instead of making back tracks to my shanty, as could easily have been done, we are forced to skulk around two or three weeks with no certainty of escaping even at the end of that time."

Both Neal and Teddy understood that it would be useless to say anything more in Jake's favor, and as a matter of fact, they felt quite as bitter toward him as did c.u.mmings, for it was not difficult to see what might be the result of his foolish excursion.

In silence the little party waited until the Indian returned bringing the carca.s.s of a tapir, a small quant.i.ty of alligator pears, and two so-called cabbages cut from palm trees.

"It is not difficult to get all the food that may be needed provided we can keep the fact of our being here a secret," he said in a tone which showed how greatly he was pleased by his success.

"And that we shall not be able to do many hours longer except by some piece of rare good luck," c.u.mmings said bitterly. "Jake went out a long while ago, and is now, I presume, roaming around in order to give the enemy an opportunity of looking at him."

"Went out?" the Indian repeated in surprise. "Do you mean that he has left the cave?"

"That is exactly the size of it."

"Why did he do such a foolish thing?"

"Because he was too much of a baby or an idiot to stay in hiding until the danger had pa.s.sed. He claimed that exercise was necessary."

"He will get all he needs," Poyor said half to himself, as he allowed the supply of provisions to fall unheeded from his hands. "We also must leave this place."

"Do you mean that we should go at once?" c.u.mmings asked as if he had been expecting such a remark.

"When the night has come we will start, and with but little hope of breaking through the line of sentinels."

"Are we not to wait for Jake?" Neal interrupted.

"If he does not return before we are ready there will be little chance of ever seeing him again," was the grim reply as Poyor paced to and fro, evidently so disturbed that it was impossible for him to remain in one position.

CHAPTER XXIII.

A HURRIED DEPARTURE.

Neal and Teddy were in a state of the most painful suspense from the moment Poyor returned until the time for their departure arrived.

The one hope was that Jake would succeed in finding his way back, for the thought that he might be captured was terrible, and they sat near the entrance listening intently to every sound.

"You're bound to be disappointed if you count on hearing him," c.u.mmings said bitterly.

"But there is a chance that the Indians are some distance from here,"

Teddy replied. "Poyor didn't find any until he reached the line of sentinels."

"I am not saying that he is necessarily captured yet; but it would be little short of a miracle if he found his way back after going any distance from this cave. I wouldn't dare to make the attempt."

"But are we to go away without trying to find the poor fellow?" Neal asked in a tone of distress.

"It would be useless to search, and we are now in too much danger to waste any time," c.u.mmings said sternly. "Our one chance of escape was to give the enemy the idea that we had succeeded in getting out of the country, and he has destroyed it. Now this portion of the forest will be filled with Indians, and in twenty-four hours from the moment he or his trail is seen, we shall be discovered. We cannot aid him, and I doubt whether I would be willing to do so if it was possible, for a man of average common sense who will act as he has done deserves punishment."

The boys made no reply. Each instant their companion's anger against Jake increased, and it was not well to rouse him by further conversation.

Near the bank of the stream Poyor had built a fire and was cooking a portion of the tapir and the fish, for in the hurried flight which was soon to be begun there might not be an opportunity to prepare food.

The Indian had unpacked the bundles in order to discard everything not absolutely necessary, and was tying each compactly when the boys approached.

"Why are you making only three packages?" Neal asked. "Teddy and I want to do our full share of the work, and it isn't right for you and c.u.mmings to lug everything."

"You will be forced to do more than an equal share because that which Jake carried must now be divided between us," Poyor replied grimly. "The fourth load is to be made up of the provisions."

"Are you going straight for the coast, and try to force your way through the line of sentinels?"

"That cannot be done. We must now ascend the mountain range on the north of the forest."

"But by so doing the journey will be made much longer, won't it?"

"Very much."