"But we may have to stay two or three weeks."
"Better that than to be captured," Cummings replied, and then he relapsed into silence.
During the next two hours the little party pressed steadily forward, making their way with difficulty through the tangled foliage, and then Neal was forced to ask for another halt.
"I must rest awhile," he said. "My feet are sore, and it seems impossible to take another step."
Poyor halted, was about to seat himself, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said:
The white members of the party were too tired even to talk. Throwing themselves upon the ground they enjoyed the luxury of rest, and, convinced there was no danger to be apprehended from the enemy until daylight, Neal and Teddy gave themselves up to the embrace of slumber.
An hour passed before the apparently tireless Poyor returned, and he awakened the sleepers by saying:
"I have found that for which I sought. Come with me, and repose until labor will seem a pleasure."
"What is it? A cave?" Neal asked sleepily.
"More than that. An underground house where we can live in safety, unless the retreat should be discovered."
It was a great exertion to get into traveling trim; but all hands did it after a time, and Poyor led the way, although he had probably been there but once before, as if following a familiar path.
After about half an hour's rapid walking the Indian halted at an opening in the hillside hardly more than large enough for one to go through on his hands and knees, and motioned for the others to enter.
Cummings led the way, and while he was doing so Teddy asked Poyor:
"How could you see a small hole like that while it is so dark?"
"On the line of these caves the earth is always damp. When we halted last I could feel that we were on the underground water course, and it was only necessary to follow it up. Here we shall find both food and drink."
"I don't understand where the food comes in unless we are to live on bats," Neal said laughingly, as he in turn entered the aperture.
By the time Teddy was inside Cummings had lighted a branch of what is mistakenly called fat wood, and, using this for a torch, it was possible to have a reasonably good view of the temporary home.
The boys found themselves standing in an enormous chamber, from which led several galleries or smaller rooms, lined with the same soft white stone seen in the buildings of the Silver City, and at the further end was a narrow stream rising apparently from the solid rock, crossing the cavern to the opposite side where it disappeared.