On the border of the thicket he paused.
Close to where he stood was a fallen tree—a huge sycamore.
“Sit down, gal!” and he indicated with his hand the tree-trunk, as he spoke.
Kate obeyed the command.
“Now, jist wait quiet a moment, till I scout round and see if thar is anybody in the timber nigh us.”
Then into the thicket he went.
Five minutes’ search convinced the renegade that there was no one near. Then he returned to the spot where he had left Kate and took a seat on the tree-trunk by her side.
“Thar, gal, we kin talk here without any danger of any pryin’ sucker a-hearin’ our talk.”
“Have you any thing particular to say that you are so afraid of being overheard?” asked Kate.