THE SECRETARY-BIRD. 



That which first attracted his 

 notice was the sinuous course of 

 the river, its windings being so 

 many that the wonder was how 

 the raft had floated so far without 



TLL LEAVE You HERE, APACHE." 



Striking the bank. The fact that it had done so caused Jack to fear the wild men 

 were not so distant as he had hoped. 



Within less than a mile from camp, the stream made a regular horseshoe, so 

 that if one should cross it where the raft had lodged, and go straight westward, he 

 would meet the same current at no great distance. 



It was here, also, that the dense weeds and tall grass merged into dense timber, 

 which continued indefinitely up the river, much farther, at least, than the eye of 

 Jack could follow. 



" I wonder if the varmints are in there," he said, drawing his mustang ; " they 

 couldn't get a better hiding-place, but I don't know why they would want to hide 

 themselves so long." 



Reason suggested that if there were any hostile natives in the neighborhood, 

 they were not likely to stay long in camp ; and if they had been in this jungle, they 

 must have left long before ; but the Texan had learned, during his stirring experi- 

 ence on the Southwest border, that it was often more prudent to follow what may 

 be called instinct than reason. He therefore determined to investigate. 



As he had anticipated, his mustang was able to force his way only a short 

 distance before the vines and trees became so dense that he was forced to stop. 



" I'll leave you here, Apache," said he, addressing the steed, "and will expect 

 you to be near when 1 come back, even if it isn't till to-morrow morning : do you 

 understand ? " 



The face of no animal could have shown more intelligence than that of the mus- 

 tang, when thus addressed by his master, who felt no doubt that he comprehended 



