d separate him from the wonders and
wealth of the Silver City.

"At least, we have nothing more to fear from the Indians, and there is
now good reason to believe we shall get home at some time, which is more
than either of us could have said truthfully last night."

"We can't have that satisfaction," and Cummings turned to resume the
march. "The Chan Santa Cruz frequently go to the coast, and there are
plenty living near by who may try to make matters disagreeable for us.
But we must not stand here speculating; it is necessary to gain the
forest below before finding anything for supper, and I'm free to confess
that either fish or meat will be very acceptable."

The thought of food caused all to forget their fatigue, and the descent
was begun, the progress being as easy and rapid as it had previously
been slow and difficult.

The afternoon was not more than half spent when they reached the fringe
of bushes marking the forest line, and an hour later the little party
were shielded from the rays of the sun by the wide spreading branches
of enormous trees.

Now the advance was more of a hunting excursion than the ending of a
day's journey, and each member of the band searched among the foliage
for something eatable.

Poyor was the one who finally succeeded in replenishing the larder, and
he did it in a right royal manner.

While Neal and Teddy were looking for a bird which the latter declared
he had caught a glimpse of among the leaves, the Indian started off at
full speed, returning in a short time with two armadilloes.

"Good for you!" Cummings shouted joyfully. "We'll have a first-class
supper now, with plenty to spare for breakfast. How did you manage to
get both?"

"An Indian is a better hunter than the white man," Poyor said with a
smile as he set about building a fire.

"Do you intend to eat those horrid looking things?" Teddy asked in
surprise.

"Indeed I do, and after you get a taste of the old fellow's flesh,
roasted in his own shell, you'll say it goes ahead of everything except
a morsel of fat from the back of Mr. Armadillo."

A small spring bubbled out of the ground beneath a huge logwood tree,
giving rise to what would probably be a large stream by the time it
reached the coast, and here it was proposed to spend the night.

To protect themselves from possible visits from wild beasts Cummings set
about collecting fuel for camp-fires, and in this work the others
assisted while the Indian played t