“I’ll tell you,” David proposed; “how about crossing under the fall at night and slipping down the gorge. We can travel after dark and hide in the daytime until we’re too far away for the Indians to follow.” Miguel, while not enthusiastic over the plan, could offer no other to take its place, so they made their way to the other side to have a good view of the lay of the land and to form their plans accordingly. There were now no Indians in sight on the opposite bank, nor were there any signs of their presence. Therefore, they clambered down the side of the bluff to the edge of the waterfall. The water had fallen a great deal since they had come across. Instead of the thick stream shooting far out over the ledge, there was now a greatly reduced volume, so that it fell in a cascade that closely hugged the rock wall. The passage underneath the fall was closed. Their one avenue of escape to the mainland was blocked. “There’s only one thing to do,” Miguel said in disgust, “and that is to make ourselves as comfortable as possible until we can think of some way to get off the island or until something unexpected happens.” David agreed that there was no other course to pursue, and the lower end of the island being the more open, they decided to make camp there. They cleared a small space in the edge of the jungle, cut four saplings for corner-posts and built a rather substantial shelter, covered with a layer of palm-leaves on top and on all four sides, leaving only one opening for a doorway. Bunks were arranged along the walls and a fireplace built in front, of stones brought up from the riverbank. The domicile was designedly of sturdy construction for they did not know how long they would be compelled to occupy it. Then followed two days devoted to a thorough exploration of the island. It was small, not over three-quarters of a mile long, and less than a third as wide. Birds of many species were abundant and there was no difficulty in procuring all the meat that was needed. But there were no mammals of any size; if there had been monkeys in the tree-tops, or deer, tapirs or peccaries in the forest they soon should have found them, or at least seen traces of their presence. The turbulent character of the water surrounding them accounted for this. The birds, of course, could fly across, but no mammal could swim across the barrier of agitated water. On the second night after they had built the hut, David awoke with a start. The awakening was so sudden that he felt there must be a reason for it, although there was not a sound upon the still, cool air. However, a disagreeable odor filled the room. He lay quietly for some minutes with the uncanny feeling that he was being watched by some living creature and that, too, from no great distance. David knew that the best policy under such circumstances, was to remain perfectly motionless. A sudden move might invite attack.