But even
that meant another thirty miles to the scene of the attack on Buck's
camp on the banks of the Chusco. And from that place it was
eighty-five miles to a railroad and help!
The boys sat in the edge of the pines as the new moon disappeared,
leaving them in utter darkness, and tried desperately to encourage
each other. Both had the grit to set themselves stoutly to the
apparently hopeless task. Without food or firearms and possibly
without water, they knew they would find the task gigantic. But
nothing was to be gained by waiting for starvation and death in the
wilderness, and their decision was to do what they could, to try the
almost impossible, and if they failed to fail with their faces
toward the east.
"Why not start now?" urged Alan. "Let's use what strength we have."
But Ned showed him the folly of this.
"A night's rest will enable us to make better time to-morrow. And
besides, we can't make headway when we can't follow the compass."
Retiring a little further into the woods the boys composed
themselves again and before long were once more fast asleep.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253