Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/153

Rh open spaces the light of a million twinkling stars made blue pools of dim radiance  wherein David could make out the shapes of  fern patches or the crouching form of a rock. Somewhere in the higher branches of a tree a bird twittered sleepily. Afar off an owl hooted. For the rest only the silence of a hot, breathless night.

He dared not stay where he was for long lest the Indian behind should awake and,  seeking him, discover his flight, while to  move forward meant risking recapture in  case the other savage, he who had gone from  the cave earlier in the evening, was on guard  near by. But once well away from his prison, David believed he would be safe so long as  darkness lasted, and to get away he must risk  the presence of the second savage. Moving cautiously, testing each step that he took, he  drew himself away from the cavern entrance  and the edge of the shadowed patch beneath  the twisted oak. Monapikot had taught him the skill that takes one through the woods in  silence, even in the night when the other  senses must make up for sight, and David  caused scarce the swaying of a fern frond as  he made his slow way up the gentle slope,  keeping always to the shadows. Fortunately