All these thoughts ran quickly through his mind as he stood there uncertain what to do.
In times gone by he had accomplished much with fearful odds against him; but what could his unaided arm do now against so many?
Perhaps all his friends but Ruth had fallen; but if they had, he would not abandon her. So long as she lived he would work for her deliverance.
But he would not take that shout of triumph as evidence that all was lost.
Something might be done yet, and he would see with his own eyes how matters stood.
So he passed slowly onward, keeping a sharp look-out for the enemy.
The moon and clouds favored him, for no ray of light shot down into the forest.
Noiselessly and with the utmost caution he crept onward, until at last he was close to the spot from whence the various sounds had come.
At that moment the moon broke forth from behind the clouds with a splendor almost like that of the sun.
Hardly a dozen yards before him, he beheld a number of figures clustered together.