Ned had another attack of the nerves, but, as his comrade was sleeping soundly, he took no trouble to hide it, and let the spell shake itself out.
The day was bright, burning and hot, and it threatened to pass like its predecessor, in silence and inaction.

Ned and Obed had been lying down or sitting down so long that they had grown stiff, and now, knowing that they were out of range they stood up and walked boldly about, tensing and flexing their muscles, and relieving the bodily strain.

Ned thought that their appearance might tempt the Lipans to a shot or some other demonstration, but no sound came from the woods, and they could not see any human presence there.

"Maybe they have gone away after all," said Ned hopefully.
"If you went over there to the woods you'd soon find out that they hadn't." "Suppose they really went away.

We'd have no way of knowing it and then we'd have to sit here forever all the same." Obed laughed, despite the grimness of their situation.
"That is a problem," he said, "but if you can't work a problem it will work itself if you only give it enough time." The morning was without result, but in the afternoon they saw figures stirring in the wood and concluded that some movement was at hand.
"Ned," said Obed, "I think we've either won in the contest of patience, or that something else has occurred to disturb the Lipans.