It was something like ten feet to the earth, but this was nothing for him to leap down.
On more than one occasion when his life was threatened, he had leaped more than double that distance.
He was close to the edge of the roof now, and was preparing himself for the spring.
He tried to peer down into the darkness to see if the coast was clear of enemies, but the gloom was so dense that he could not see an arm’s length before his face.
At that instant, as luck would have it, a pale flash of lightning lighted up the scene for a moment.
The scout used his eyes well, and thereby made a discovery.
The ground about the cabin was free from savages, except at one point, where a single one stood wet and forlorn.
Evidently he had been left to watch the cabin while his comrades sought shelter in the forest until the rain should be over.
It was a wonder that he caught a glimpse of the savage, for he was immediately beneath him, and had he sprung down he must have landed directly upon his head.
The flash was gone in a moment, and then if possible it was darker than before.