up the mystery. "Hoot! Hoot!" He sounded
the signal, and for an instant our hero's heart failed him. Should he
answer? Was he seen?

"Yes, I believe he has heard me," he thought. "He wonders who I am. I
will answer. Hoot! Hoot!"

In very low tones he gave the call, and waited eagerly for what was next
to happen. Then he gave vent to a sigh of relief. The man was
deceived. He took this other figure for a comrade, and imagining that
he was too close, and that the circle would be too open on the farther
side, he rose to his knees and crawled to the right, till he was out of
sight and hearing. After that Dick waited no longer. He crept forward,
stealthily and slowly at first, till he was yards nearer the stockade.
Then he increased the pace till he judged that he was clear of the inner
line of sentries, and almost within hailing distance of his friends.
But still he would not neglect the precautions he had decided were
necessary.

"I feel inclined to jump to my feet and make a bolt for it," he thought.
"But no, that wouldn't do, and I might easily be shot from the
stockade. Slow and sure, said the tortoise, and I'll stick to the
motto."

None but those who have been placed in a similar position can fully
appreciate the temptation to which he was put, the huge desire which
took hold of him to rise to his feet and run. Dick felt as the man does
who is in full view of the rifles of unscrupulous marauders, without
cover for many yards, uncertain whether to expect a hail of bullets or
not. A sense of dignity, the feeling that it would not be courageous to
run, holds one steady; but the temptation is there. There is a queer
little feeling in the small of the back, and if one does not run, and
conquers the temptation to act as a craven, one longs to look round, to
make sure that no violence is about to be attempted. That was how our
hero felt, and who will blame him? He was so near a refuge and friends
now, and seemed clear of the enemy. It would be so easy to run.
However, he stuck to his motto, and, still remaining on his knees,
slowly crept closer to the stockade.

Hist! Something caught his ear, and he sat down to listen for some
minutes till he felt sure that he was mistaken. Then he crawled on
again, till of a sudden he swung round, and, with a cry of dismay,
leaped to his feet. There was a man following him, a figure bent almost
double, silently coming up with him. Had he but known, it was the