The others strained their ears to hear, too. In a moment a stone rattled. Then there sounded an unmistakable footstep upon the rock. Somebody was approaching.
"They're coming back?" asked Helen, doubtfully.
"Hush!" commanded Ann again. "Whoever it is, he has no light. It can't be Ruth."
Much heavier boots than those the girl of the Red Mill wore now rattled over the loose stones. Ann pulled the other two down beside her where she crouched in the corner.
"Wait!" she breathed.
"Can it be some wild animal?" asked Helen.
"With boots on? I bet!" scoffed Bob.
It was pitch dark. The three crouching together in the corner of the little chamber were not likely to attract the attention of this marauder, if all went well. But their hearts beat fast as the rustle of the approaching footsteps grew louder.
There loomed up a man's figure. It looked too big to be either Tom or Ralph, and it passed on with an assured step. He needed no lamp to find a path that seemed well known.
"Who—what——"