How near they were we didn't know--except that the sounds had come from very near, certainly not more than a hundred yards--and we hoped that we might go safely forward to where the bush would be thin enough to allow us to see our surroundings.

But there was no clearing.

Several times a crash of underbrush either ahead or to one side brought us to anxious attention with fingers at the trigger guards.

At last, after what seemed to be hours of nervous tension, we came to a crossing of trails, down which we could see in four directions thirty or forty feet.

A large tree grew near the intersection of the trails, and here we waited within reach of its friendly protection.