ion of single-handed guarding the wagon.

Without waiting for any explanations the yaks were driven in, and the
opposite shore reached. Quickly denuding the wagon of the raft timbers,
the trail was taken up for home but they were too hungry for words.

"We can't stop to set up the stove and arrange our kitchen now. Let us
take such things as we can find, and eat on the way."

Harry's advice was followed. And now they recognized the country through
which they were going. It was almost the same trail over which they had
traveled twice before, and it went through the roughest part of the
island, and when they made the first trip with the team they had to go
south to get into a part of the country which was better suited for easy
traveling.

"The trouble is we cannot safely go south now, as it will bring us too
close to the savages, and we shall have to bear up with this bad ground
until to-morrow noon, at least."

By night fully fifteen miles had been covered, but it was a terrible
strain on the poor animals, and not any the less wearing on the wagon.
The ground was broken up into little hillocks, and studded with
vegetable growth in such dense tufts, that constant detours had to be
made to get around them.

When evening approached it was with a feeling of the greatest relief,
and they certainly craved the rest. A careful watch was kept up during
the entire night. They had, of course, no means of knowing whether the
savages had discovered the ruse, but there could be no question about
the determination to revenge the death of their chief and of the others
who had fallen during the day.

As soon as it was light enough to see, and without waiting for the
preparation of a breakfast, in the usual way, the trip was continued,
and the western edge of the forest did not come near until near evening.
They had eluded their pursuers, and felt happy, and Ralph could not help
expressing his satisfaction over and over, at finishing the chief who
had treated them so vilely while in captivity.

Shortly after noon of the following day they reached home, and related
their adventures.

The Professor was not surprised at their failure to bring the boat back.
He was a little disappointed, but they were certainly in a better
position to build a boat now than when the old one was undertaken.

CHAPTER XII

THE PROBLEM ABOUT THE CAVE

That evening they all had a jolly time in the living room, with music
and stories, and it