Again he looked keenly all about him, trying to find his bearings.

At last he turned back over part of the way by which he had come.  At times the frightened boy ran swiftly and then frequently stopped to glance at the sky far above the rim of the canyon.  More and more his mind became confused and in his terror he increased the speed at which he was running.

Soon breathless from his endeavors, he was compelled to halt and once more he did his utmost to calm himself.  He recalled the time which had elapsed since he had left his friends.  Glancing at his watch he saw that more than two hours had passed and that now it was late in the afternoon.

Darkness would soon be at hand and would come suddenly when it arrived.  Already Fred fancied he could feel the chill of the night air.  He had no food anywhere about him and visions of hunger increased the suffering of the troubled boy.  Besides he was afraid of what might occur in the hours of darkness.

When at last night came Fred had not found his way back to the spot where he had left his friends so many hours before.  He was convinced now that he would be compelled to pass the night alone in the canyon.  Whether or not he ever would be able to escape from the gulch was more than a question in his mind.

Chilled and hungry as well as alarmed, Fred did not dare look for a place where he might sleep.  In the darkness it would be impossible for him to tell whether or not rattlesnakes were near or the eyes of some prowling beast might already be fixed upon him.

It was a night of agony.  How the long and weary hours at last passed Fred had no conception.  There were times when he felt numb as if all power of sensation had entirely left his body.  Again he tried resolutely to assure himself that safety would come with the morning light and that soon either he would find his friends or they would discover him.  Somehow he was convinced that neither Pete nor John would search together for him.  It was likely also that one of them would remain in the spot from which Fred had started so that if the lost boy in some way should be able to make his way back he would not be tempted to depart again under the impression that his friends already were gone.

When at last the morning came, almost with the suddenness with which darkness had fallen upon the canyon, Fred’s spirits revived in a measure.

Above the rim of the great gulch he saw a huge bird circling high in the air.  He was unable to determine whether or not the bird was an eagle but it certainly reminded him of one.

The sight of the circling bird recalled the emblem of his country,—­the majestic eagle.  With what powerful wings the great birds had been endowed.  What wonderful and graceful sweeps they took in their encircling flights.  For a moment he almost envied the great bird he saw above him.  If he too had wings he might be able to escape from the place in which he was practically imprisoned.