The reports of firearms which had broken out with such suddenness ceased with the same abruptness, and the silence because of the contrast was tenfold more oppressive than before.
"What can that mean ?" asked Jack, as his companion slackened his pace.
"_It means that they are through_!" replied the doctor, whose face was of deathly paleness.

"My God! what have we escaped!" "We shall soon know," replied Jack, catching the awful significance of the words; and then he added to himself: "We may have escaped it, but for how long ?" A few rods further and they were at the side of the stream, and the boat loomed to view through the thick undergrowth and vegetation..