Page:Under MacArthur in Luzon.djvu/140

116 Yankee lad. "We ain't out of the woods yet, not by a jugful."

"Let us move back, among the trees, Si. Perhaps we can climb into one that has low branches."

This advice was followed, and once in the trees the boys again listened with "all ears," as the saying is. But the natives did not come back, and they were not disturbed.

Each was exhausted, mentally and physically, yet sleep was out of the question; and as the night wore along they conversed in whispers, speculating upon what would be best to do with the coming of daylight, and if the Central was still at anchor in the bay, awaiting their return.

"I am afraid of one of two things," said Walter. "Either the transport has left or else those natives carried us a long way inland before they placed us in that cave."

"How do you make that out?" asked Si.

"Because of the noise they have made and the lights. If we were close to the shore, and the Central was still in the harbor, they would be more careful, being afraid some party would be out on the hunt for us."

"By ginger, Walter, that looks about right!