ned designed to drift down stream for a mile or so, by which time he expected to be at such a distance that there was no further possible danger of pursuit. it would then be necessary for him to get forward as fast as he could, taking care to avoid the redskins who were in front, rather than those in the rear.
he was a little alarmed to find, after going scarcely half that distance, that the stream was broadening very rapidly. the current as a consequence, became slower, and when he descried seemingly a large forest looming up before him, he concluded that the time had about come for him to disembark, and use his heels. but, prompted somewhat by curiosity, he remained a while longer, until, before he was aware, he discovered that the stream had debouched into a lake, nearly circular in shape, and fully a couple of hundred yards in diameter. the impetus of the current kept the tree moving slowly and still more slowly, until it had reached a point near the middle, when it gradually settled down to a complete standstill.
"that's odd!" exclaimed the lad, looking about him, and seeing the broad sweep of water on every hand. "if i knew this i think i should have got off."
it only remained for him to work his way to land, and this he began doing by using his hands as paddles. it was slow progress; and he was of the opinion that he had made a rather foolish blunder in permitting himself to be "carried out to sea" in this fashion. he was disturbed still further by the appearance of the sky. dark, threatening clouds were gathering and sweeping across it, frequently shutting out the light of the moon and causing the most grotesque shadows to whisk over the surface of the lake.
the indications were that a violent storm was close at hand, and he used both hands with all the vigor at his command, and saw himself gradually nearing land—the rate being so moderate that it could not keep pace with his impatience. he was tempted more than once to leap into the water and swim or wade ashore, but he restrained himself. on one of these occasions, just as a heavy cloud approached the moon, and while his raft was a dozen yards or so from shore, he was alarmed at sight of something approaching him through the water. what it was he could not conjecture, as it was low down, and very indistinct on account of the gathering gloom.
as the cloud touched the moon and obscured the light, this suspicious object disappeared, and he awaited with no little alarm the outcome of the mystery. he was sitting motionless, looking and listening, when the end of the tree was suddenly elevated a full foot, while the other correspondingly descended.
with a gasp of terror, ned clutched the limb near him and held on, not knowing whither he was about to be flung. a muttering growl at the same instant explained what it all meant, and he hastily retreated still further upon the tree, expecting every moment to feel the claws of the wild animal fastened upon him.
"it seems to me that these beasts are after me more than the indians," was his thought, as he drew out his revolver, and awaited the necessity of using it.
further than placing his paws upon one end of the trunk, and giving out a threatening growl, the animal did nothing for a few minutes, while the boy, fully sensible of the value of his ammunition, was equally lacking in offensive proceedings. thus matters stood, while the great heavy cloud floated slowly by the moon, and the head of the unwelcome stranger gradually came to view.
it was some wild beast, beyond question, but it wasn't a bear. its eyes, shining with a phosphorescent glow, and the cavernous growling that issued from the red jaws, made it seem the most frightful kind of a monster. hoping that it was not particularly hungry, ned tried the scare game again, flinging up his arms and shouting, and making noises horrible enough to frighten any one to whom they remained unexplained. in this case it succeeded admirably. the creature, whatever it was, must have concluded that it was something besides a boy with which it had taken passage, and, after indulging in one prolonged stare, dropped back into the water and paddled straight for shore.
"i don't think lone wolf can follow me all along this route," concluded the boy, as he resumed his paddling toward shore, and reached it in the course of the next ten minutes. he had been cramped up in one position so long that he felt the need of exercise, and started off at a rapid pace, with no more idea of the precise direction he was following than if he were blind.
the clouds sweeping across the sky grew heavier and darker, and the wind, strong and chilling, soughed through the trees of the forest with a dismal, wailing sound that would have frightened one of more years than young chadmund. even he would have shrunk from the task of going through the wood had the circumstances been different, but he was so actuated by the one all-controlling desire of escape that he forgot the real danger which encompassed him. besides the risk of encountering the apaches, there was the ever-present peril from wild beasts and venomous serpents. none of the latter as yet had disturbed him, but he was likely to step upon some coiling reptile, unseen in the dark, whose sting was certain death.
it soon became apparent that a storm of a most violent character was about to burst forth. the wind grew stronger and colder, lightning flashed athwart the darkening sky, and the thunder boomed with an increasing power peculiar to warm countries. the wanderer had been fortunate thus far in preserving himself from a ducking, and he was still desirous of doing so. there was nothing to be gained by pressing forward, and he began groping around for some kind of a shelter. this was difficult to find, as the gloom was so dense that eyesight was useless, and he could only use his hands.
"i guess i'll have to climb a tree," he thought, running his hand along the bark of one.
but at this juncture he ran against a rock, striking with such violence that he saw stars. as soon as he recovered he began an examination, and was not a little pleased to find that under one portion of it there was a hollow big enough for him to crawl in and protect himself from the tempest. he had scarcely done so when the storm burst forth.
first a few large drops pattered upon the leaves, and then it seemed as if the windows of heaven had been opened. the rain descended in torrents, the firmament flamed with a blinding intensity—and the earth trembled with the reverberating thunder. the vivid sheets of electric fire made the darkness and gloom deeper by contrast. the trees, with their swaying branches, and the spear-like columns of rain, stood out and vanished again so rapidly that the vision of the appalled lad was dazzled and bewildered. the terrific shocks coming simultaneously with the lightning, proved that the thunderbolts were falling all around him, and again and again he thanked that providence which had dissuaded him from taking refuge in some of the trees.
crash!
directly in front of him, an immense giant of the forest was smitten from top to base, the limbs, leaves, and splinters hurled in every direction, as if a thousand pounds of powder had been exploded within. the air was so surcharged with electricity that ned felt the effect. a prickling sensation down one entire side of his body was followed by a partial numbness and paralysis that alarmed him. with his other hand he hastily rubbed his limbs, and turned and twisted, fearing that he was becoming helpless.
in a few minutes he regained the strength which had temporarily departed, and then noticed that the storm was subsiding as rapidly as it had arisen. the thunder died out in sullen mutterings; the lightning flashed fitfully, often without any perceptible report following, and the deluge diminished to a few drops.
"the storm is over, thank heaven!" he exclaimed. "as i have such a good bed, i may as well stay here till morning."
but at this instant his blood almost froze at the sudden discovery of a new and deadly peril.
