Part 13 (1/2)

During the first night Angel was restless, as usual in the woods at the merest sound, and George tried to find out the cause of the uneasiness.

”Wasn't it near here that the wildcat attacked us?” asked George.

”I believe you are right. Possibly he has scented another one.”

”Suppose we take a peep out,” Ralph whispered; and taking their guns, they stole down from the wagon.

They silently stood by the wagon, peering around in the darkness.

”They will be up in the trees,” said Harry. ”Wait--I see something; look up to the right, a little to the left of the opening through to the sky.”

”Two b.a.l.l.s of fire could be distinctly noticed.

”That is one of them, if it isn't something larger. What shall we do?”

”Ralph, you and I will aim and fire at it, and if it makes a dive for us George and Tom can take the next shot. Get in the wagon quietly, and prepare.”

”Now, ready, aim, fire!” Something came down from the tree faster than an ordinary descent.

”Get into the wagon, quickly,” and suiting the action to the word, they leaped up quickly.

”Don't shoot, George, until you see something definite to shoot at.”

Something went cras.h.i.+ng through the underbrush, and Angel, who was their monitor, increased his alarm.

”I believe it is making for us.”

The boys who had shot were now prepared with the newly loaded guns and awaited the attack, but beyond the plain movement of the leaves, and what appeared to be breaking twigs, nothing could be discerned, until George almost screamed, as he saw the object above them, high in the branches.

”Here is a chance for a shot?” And Harry and Ralph both aimed and fired at the same moment, and the animal came down with a crash and landed near the wagon, but was up in an instant, and appeared to spring out through the forest.

Angel quieted down, and this gave George a.s.surance that they were rid of the animal.

The second day was not filled with stirring events, and they went along with considerable speed, and judging from their former estimates the distance traveled during the two days must have brought them fully forty or fifty miles from home, so they counted on being able to reach the location of the boat some time during the following day.

Before noon of the day they sighted the West River, but they reached it at an unfamiliar point.

George and Harry looked at each other in surprise. ”It does seem to me,”

said Harry, ”that we must have made some miscalculation in coming from the woods. If I am not mistaken we are miles south of the place we ought to have aimed for.”

Beyond question the direction was to the north, and the team was headed for that direction, their route being near the river, as the ground was much smoother, and speed was thus made.

”What is this?” asked Ralph in consternation. ”Here are tracks.”

The trails were examined, and Harry solved the question by the a.s.sertion that it was the tracks made by their own wagon when they escaped from the savages on the other side of the river.

”What idiots we have been to expose ourselves to the savages.”

”We must leave the river bed now, or we may be discovered,” was George's answer, and the yaks were guided to a higher elevation, and urged forward at a higher speed.

Selecting a secluded spot the noonday halt was made, and a hurried luncheon provided, but before they were ready for a start, Angel, who was in the branches of a tree, began his chatter, which caused George to spring toward the direction of the tree.