d, and Teddy cried
joyfully:

"Here he is, and I hope we are to make another move pretty soon, for
after last night's adventure this isn't the most pleasant place I ever
saw in which to spend any length of time."

It could easily be seen from the Indian's general appearance that he
brought no bad news, and without waiting to be questioned he went
toward the stream to quench his thirst.

A sharp cry from both the boys caused him to halt very suddenly, and
when Cummings told the story of the adventure with the alligator he
said:

"You should not have made such an attempt except when a fire was
burning, and even then to wade into the water was wrong. I will get what
can be used for both drinking and fishing."

Again he left the cave, returning ten minutes later with what looked
like a slender bamboo, save that there were no joints in it. Through the
middle of the pole, running the entire length, was a small hole hardly
larger than is to be found in a reed, and with this while standing five
or six feet from the stream he drank at leisure, keeping his eyes fixed
upon the surface of the water to guard against an attack.

Having thus quenched his thirst he returned to where Cummings was on
guard and told the story of his wanderings.

He had followed straight along the line of moisture, finding cave after
cave but none of them as well adapted to their purpose as was this one,
and had seen none of the enemy until five or six miles had been
traversed, when a strong cordon of sentinels was discovered.

The men were stationed not more than twenty feet apart, and, as nearly
as he could judge, had been ordered to remain and prevent the fugitives
from leaving the country by way of the coast. From what he already knew
concerning the people, he understood the number of men on duty at this
particular point had been largely increased, therefore the natural
inference was that there were two distinct bodies engaged in trying to
capture the white men. One whose duty it was to guard the boarder so
thoroughly that it would be impossible to escape, while the other
scoured the forest and swamp.

"We must stay here several days," he said in conclusion. "After a time
the men will grow careless, and then we may be able to make our way
through the lines; but now it is impossible."

Until this moment Neal and Teddy had hoped there might yet be a chance
for them to reach Progresso in time to take passage on the steamer as
first agreed upo