Then the light of the fire went out, the sun sank behind the mountains, and the five could no longer see the little group of captives and captors.
They still waited, although eagerness and impatience were tugging at the hearts of every one of them.

But they must give the Indians time to fall asleep if they would secure rescue, and not merely revenge.

They remained in the bushes, saying but little and eating of venison that they carried in their knapsacks.
They let a full three hours pass, and the night remained dark, but with a faint moon showing.

Then they descended slowly into the valley, approaching by cautious degrees the spot where they knew the Indian camp lay.

This work required at least three quarters of an hour, and they reached a point where they could see the embers of the fire and the dark figures lying about it.