sh your nap," Cummings whispered as,
kneeling aft, he began to assist Poyor in propelling the craft.

"Don't you want us to help?" Teddy asked.

"No, there will be nothing you can do until we enter the Silver City."

Tired though the boys were it was literally impossible to close their
eyes in slumber now, and they remained very wide awake watching the
coming of a new day.

When the sun had risen they could get some slight idea of the country
through which they were passing; but of what might be a few yards
beyond no one could say.

The shores of this particular water-way through the swamp were flat,
covered with reeds and long grass, with here and there dense tangles of
trees and vines, and the channel was so narrow that only at rare
intervals could the paddles be used. The Indian and the white man pushed
the boat from one bend to another, oftentimes finding it difficult to
pass the sharp curves, and the boys confidently expected this labor
would be continued during the entire day, therefore their surprise was
great when, about an hour after sunrise, the little craft was forced
under a clump of overhanging foliage as if the journey was at an end.

"What is the matter?" Neal asked in a whisper, and Cummings replied in
the same cautious tone:

"Nothing. It would be in the highest degree dangerous to travel very far
now that it is light."

"How long are we to stay here?"

"Until the darkness comes again."

"Wouldn't it be safe to go on the bank where we can stretch our legs?"

"We must not leave the boat. It will be only for a few hours, and then
we shall have plenty of exercise paddling."

Immediately the canoe had been made fast under the mass of vines and
shrubbery Poyor stretched himself out in the bow as if the task of
remaining perfectly quiet during an entire day was a very agreeable one,
and Cummings followed his example.

Jake, who had been sitting amidships, moved toward his friends, and the
three spent an hour talking of what was now termed by all "a foolish
venture."

There was nothing left for it, however, but to continue on since they
were in the swamp, and after a time Neal said petulantly:

"Well make the best of it, and if an opportunity should occur to go to
Merida there must be no hesitation, whatever Cummings may say."

As if this resolution gave them renewed courage, the boys lay down in
the most comfortable position possible, after eating a light lunch, and
until nightfall no soun