Those Were the Real Conquests

           Wehadimaginedthatourpursuers,theape-men,knewnothingofourbrush-woodhiding-place,butweweresoontofindoutourmistake.Therewasnosoundinthewoods—notaleafmoveduponthetrees,andallwaspeacearoundus—butweshouldhavebeenwarnedbyourfirstexperiencehowcunninglyandhowpatientlythesecreaturescanwatchandwaituntiltheirchancecomes.Whateverfatemaybeminethroughlife,IamverysurethatIshallneverbenearerdeaththanIwasthatmorning.ButIwilltellyouthethinginitsdueorder.

           Weallawokeexhaustedaftertheterrificemotionsandscantyfoodofyesterday.Summerleewasstillsoweakthatitwasaneffortforhimtostand;buttheoldmanwasfullofasortofsurlycouragewhichwouldneveradmitdefeat.Acouncilwasheld,anditwasagreedthatweshouldwaitquietlyforanhourortwowherewewere,haveourmuch-neededbreakfast,andthenmakeourwayacrosstheplateauandroundthecentrallaketothecaveswheremyobservationshadshownthattheIndianslived.Werelieduponthefactthatwecouldcountuponthegoodwordofthosewhomwehadrescuedtoensureawarmwelcomefromtheirfellows.Then,withourmissionaccomplishedandpossessingafullerknowledgeofthesecretsofMapleWhiteLand,weshouldturnourwholethoughtstothevitalproblemofourescapeandreturn.