Both Neal and Teddy understood that it would be useless to say anything more in Jake's favor, and as a matter of fact, they felt quite as bitter toward him as did Cummings, for it was not difficult to see what might be the result of his foolish excursion.
In silence the little party waited until the Indian returned bringing the carcass of a tapir, a small quantity of alligator pears, and two so-called cabbages cut from palm trees.
"It is not difficult to get all the food that may be needed provided we can keep the fact of our being here a secret," he said in a tone which showed how greatly he was pleased by his success.
"And that we shall not be able to do many hours longer except by some piece of rare good luck," Cummings said bitterly. "Jake went out a long while ago, and is now, I presume, roaming around in order to give the enemy an opportunity of looking at him."
"Went out?" the Indian repeated in surprise. "Do you mean that he has left the cave?"
"Because he was too much of a baby or an idiot to stay in hiding until the danger had passed. He claimed that exercise was necessary."
"He will get all he needs," Poyor said half to himself, as he allowed the supply of provisions to fall unheeded from his hands. "We also must leave this place."
"Do you mean that we should go at once?" Cummings asked as if he had been expecting such a remark.
"When the night has come we will start, and with but little hope of breaking through the line of sentinels."
"Are we not to wait for Jake?" Neal interrupted.
"If he does not return before we are ready there will be little chance of ever seeing him again," was the grim reply as Poyor paced to and fro, evidently so disturbed that it was impossible for him to remain in one position.
Neal and Teddy were in a state of the most painful suspense from the moment Poyor returned until the time for their departure arrived.
The one hope was that Jake would succeed in finding his way back, for the thought that he might be captured was terrible, and they sat near the entrance listening intently to every sound.
"You're bound to be disappointed if you count on hearing him," Cummings said bitterly.
"But there is a chance that the Indians are some distance from here," Teddy replied. "Poyor didn't find any until he reached the line of sentinels."