Theodore Goodridge Roberts

“ I parted the brush before me; and Stack, close on my heels, eased it back into place behind us without so much as a swish. I was as careful with my feet, feeling for a safe and noiseless foothold at every step. We came out on the edge of the waste of hardhack with no more sound than shadows. We were of a world of shadows. ”

“ If ever a man meant what he said, that man in the lean-to did. The voice was weak, shaken with pain, but there was no note of despair in it and nothing of hysterics. It was cool and decisive and terrible. It said murder and sounded murder. I had never before heard so hateful and daunting a voice.
"I know who did it," he added. "He'll wish he'd never been born. Two of them will die for it. The girl first, for blabbing."
Then old Ruben talked, but all I could hear of what he said was a whining murmur. ”

“ I pushed ahead swiftly, and Stack followed. We let the bushes and saplings swish behind us. We made good time, breasting thus boldly through the young growth. Upon reaching the wider track, my companion drew abreast of me, and we made even better speed.
"Well, we're not much wiser than we were," I said.
"Not much," admitted Stack. "The thing to do's spy on old Ruben, day an' night—track him around. Then you'd find out who it was sniped at you on the crick."
"Daytime spying for me," I returned. "This crawling about in the dark hasn't got us anywhere." ”

“ Drying my face on a corner of a blanket, I asked if old Ruben had gone out again. Tom said yes, and that Lion, who had shadowed him off, had come back.
"I suppose the old devil thinks everything is working his way now," I said.
"He's hoping that you are dead, that's certain—but he doesn't seem to be entirely free from anxiety," returned Tom. "That rifle shot you spoke of. That's worrying him, I think. It puzzles me, too."
"But was that a shot or a signal? Stack maintained that it was a signal, a warning. ”

“ I saw a small, glimmering square of gray light far in front.
"There are two little windows, one in each end," continued the old man. "It's the only safe place for you, lad. We'll get water and food and bedding up to you at the first chance."
I was close under the ridge-pole of the old house, in the very peak of the old roof. I felt as I had not felt since I was a very small boy. I grabbed at Tom, who was about to descend the ladder, and caught him by a muscular shoulder.
"Don't lock that trap-door!" ”

“ We stumbled often in the pitch dark of the old woodroad. We sent a deer, that had bedded for the night close to the track, crashing away through the underbrush. A horned owl startled us several times with its weird cries.
"They'd post a sentry, I reckon," whispered Stack. "But that depends on their number. If there's only the two of 'em—old Ruben an' the devil who sniped at you—they'd both be workin', I guess. They'll show a light now an' then, I wouldn't wonder, to read their map an' compass by. But we can't be too careful. Keep yer gun in a handy pocket." ”

“ I've fooled Ruben and his partner once. This should be easy. We'll bag those damn murderers by craft instead of by force. It'll be safer, too."
Stack liked the idea. I elaborated my plan to him.
When we reached the barns, he said that he would not wait until daylight, as it was important to warn the Jeanbards, without loss of time, to say nothing of my accident nor of having seen me since my first visit. I made no effort to detain him, but went on to the house. The light was gone from the kitchen; but within ten yards of the door I was greeted silently by all three dogs. ”

“ It looked to me as if the lantern either received a direct hit or was overturned."
"Warning be damned! There's no third party to that outfit. That was an aimed shot, fired to kill; and I wish to heaven it had killed—but I guess it didn't, or Ruben would have stopped at home today. He hasn't the nerve to carry on single-handed." ”

“ I lowered the trap after me as I descended and set it noiselessly in place. And now I was at the foot of the short ladder, in the vast and empty attic. I could not obtain a glimpse of any window from here, so I was in utter darkness. I wondered, with a chilly shock, if Tom had locked the door at the head of the attic stairs. Then I heard something, a breathing, from close at hand. My nerves jumped and my muscles froze. Then sounded a low whine. My muscles relaxed, my nerves steadied and my lungs and heart resumed the normal performance of their natural functions.
"Good dog," I whispered ”

“ But you don't understand, Giddy, To call in the Law—God only knows what that might lead to! You must keep hidden, play dead, that is the only thing to do, and pray for the best. Something may happen—a lucky accident. ”

“ You can't see in the dark. It won't do any good to go and listen to him in the dark."
"I might take yer flash."
"So that he can see to shoot you. Bright idea, Stack. What we had better do is stick right here, together, and wait for the diggers to come along. If there are two of them, we'll learn something."
Stack said nothing to that. I considered his opinion of the rifle shot—that it had been a friendly warning and not a hostile act—and still could not see it. ”