"I hope they enjoy them," muttered Roger, with a grimace, for he could not help remembering how his mouth had fairly watered with anticipation of the treat he had expected to have that evening. "I've been wondering, myself, how it came that the Indians overlooked taking the fish," continued Dick, "and the only thing I can see is that they were so anxious to get on the move before any of the white men came along with those terrible 'fire-shooting-sticks,' that they forgot about it." "Yes," Roger added, "and that treacherous chap who guided us into the trap was so taken up looking over your gun, which Waller had turned over to him, that he forgot all about the fish, too. Well, I hope they are found, and will make a fine supper for the men." "It has clouded up, and looks a little as if we might have a storm of some kind before morning breaks," went on Dick. "More trouble if that happens," grumbled the other, glancing up at the heavens to verify his comrade's statement. "Don't be too sure of that," Dick told him. "It may turn out to be a great help to us, for all we know, and give us a chance to make our escape." "What, do you think that, after all, some of the trailers among our friends will be able to follow us, and take these Indians by surprise?" asked Roger. Dick, however, shook his head at this. "To tell you the truth, Roger," he observed, "I'm afraid we can count on no such help from our friends, even if they could discover our trail, which is much in doubt." "But why not?" demanded the other. "Captain Lewis thinks a lot of us, and he is hardly the man to desert a friend, Dick." "Every word of that is true," his chum assured him. "There never could be a finer man than Captain Lewis; but stop and think, Roger; he is not on business of his own now, but bent on carrying out a great exploring expedition that was sanctioned by Congress, and backed by President Jefferson himself. Every day counts in the spelling of success; a delay here might ruin all their plans." Roger nodded his head, as though he grasped the idea. "Yes, I can see what you mean, Dick," he admitted, slowly and regretfully, "and I guess you are right. Much as Captain Lewis himself might want to lay over and send a party of his men out in search of us, his duty binds him the other way. He will have to go on, and leave us to our fate." "Well, we have been able to take care of ourselves lots of times before now, Roger, and why not again?" Somehow his last words seemed to arouse the dormant spirit of confidence in the other. Roger gritted his teeth, while his eyes flashed defiantly.