a desire
to obey Cummings' instructions to avoid making a noise, or by misgivings
as to the wisdom of the venture, neither of the boys could guess.

Despite the anxiety of the younger members of the party they soon fell
asleep, owing to excessive fatigue, and did not arouse to consciousness
until Jake whispered as he shook them vigorously:

"It's time to start. The Indian has come, an' ain't half as bad a
lookin' man as I counted on seeing."

The boys sprang to their feet, finding themselves face to face with a
tall, half naked figure which, in the dim light, looked more like a
statue of bronze than a human being. He stood scrutinizing them keenly
for fully a minute, and then, as if satisfied with their appearance,
turned away to walk swiftly along the edge of the swamp until lost to
view in the darkness.

"Poyor has just arrived," Cummings said by way of explanation; "and
according to his belief it is well for us to start at once."

"Where has he gone?" Teddy asked.

"After the canoe; it is but a short distance from here."

"Don't you dare to cook breakfast?"

"Certainly not; the light of a fire would be worse, for us, than the
report of a gun. Until we arrive at the Silver City it will be a case of
eating cold food, and perhaps we may be obliged to wait even longer than
that before having anything very elaborate in the way of a meal."

"If we are only certain of coming back again where it is possible to do
as we please, I won't grumble about what we are obliged to eat," Neal
said, with a nervous laugh.

"Don't borrow trouble," Cummings replied quickly; but both the boys
noticed that he no longer spoke in the same confident tone as before the
journey was begun. "We shall surely get through without difficulty."

The conversation was interrupted by the approach of Poyor, who came down
the water-way in the canoe more like a ghost than a creature of flesh
and blood, and Jake, whose head had been turned in the other direction,
could not suppress a slight exclamation of surprise as the Indian
suddenly appeared by his side.

The canoe which had been brought thus silently was simply the trunk of a
tree hollowed out, and about fifteen feet in length. It yet rested
lightly on the water when the entire party and all the traps were on
board, and the boys noticed with no slight degree of astonishment, that
one stroke of the paddle was sufficient to send it sharply in either
direction.

"Now you have a chance to fini