Page:Dave Porter on Cave Island.djvu/266

250 "I reckon we didn't walk in a straight line—most folks that get lost in a woods don't."

"You are right in that, but I kept as straight as I could, Link. However, that is neither here nor there. If we have got to stay here all night we may as well try to make ourselves comfortable. But I wish the others knew I was safe."

"Can't you fire your gun? It ought to be dry by now."

"I'll try it."

Dave sat down and commenced to work over the fowling-piece. In a few minutes he tried it. Bang! went the gun, the shot echoing far and wide through the forest and among the rocks. Then both boys listened for a reply.

"Nothing doing," muttered Merwell, after a minute of utter silence.

"I am sure the others would fire a shot in return if they heard that," said Dave. "We must be further from them than I expected. Well, I don't see what we can do excepting to try to make ourselves comfortable. We might climb one of these tall palms and take a look around."

"Yes, that's it!" exclaimed the other youth, eagerly. "Why didn't we think of that before? But it will be hard work climbing one of those trees," went on Merwell, gazing up at the straight trunk with the first of the limbs many feet above their heads.