y've had experience with
animals foolish enough to straggle off in here. They look like they're
going to sleep. 'Boys,' they're saying, 'we'll take a little nap now.
But don't worry; you won't lose us; we'll be with you to the end and
then some!'"

The small Mexican buzzard, less patient than the larger scavenger
birds, flopped halfway down from his branch, swooped over the two
recumbent figures and swung upward to a new perch.

"Take your time, old boy!" said Higgins. "You don't eat just yet."

"We do!" Payne raised his legs high in the air and leaped to his feet
without touching hands or body on the ground. Higgins essayed the same
athletic feat and came down with a crash on his haunches.

"No, I haven't got the spring in me that he has," he addressed the
buzzards, "but don't you get too hopeful. I'll last a long time; thick
men always do."

"We'll warm up some of our venison, Hig," said Payne as he gathered dry
sticks for a fire. "Our next move is to stoke ourselves to the
bursting point. Then we'll rest some more while our internal machinery
converts the venison into rich, red pep; and then we'll be ready to
take a look round."

As Higgins warmed the strips of broiled venison over the fire he cast a
glance now and then at the buzzards.

"Huh! I don't like that," he growled as he saw the birds unmoved by
the odor of broiling meat.

"Don't like what?" asked Payne.

"Those birds have got first-class smellers," replied Higgins, "and
they're getting the tempting odor of this frying meat right now. Do
you see it excite them? Not a bit. And let me tell you those are
mighty wise old birds. They must feel awful confident of landing us
since the smell of a few chunks of meat don't interest them at all.
Did you see any animal signs while you were getting the wood?"

"Eat!" said Payne sharply.

"Which means you didn't. I thought so. Not even an alligator. No
wonder those buzzards were glad to see us."

In spite of, or rather because of, the seriousness of their situation
they consumed an extraordinary amount of venison; then, stuffed to
repletion, stretched themselves out upon the warm earth as if they had
not a worry in the world. After the drowsiness of the heavy meal had
passed they sat up and looked round leisurely.

So far as they could see the narrow strip which comprised the bank of
the mud gulley they had crossed was the only solid land in sight, and
because of the trees and palmetto sc