As they watched, they saw Rufe Kenyon suddenly leap up behind Muriel, and then the doubly burdened horse swung around and went away at a hot pace, while Kate came flitting back into the mill.
"The officers are returnin'," she explained. "Muriel will take Rufe whar thar ain't no chance o' their findin' him. You-uns will have ter stay har. I have brung ye more fodder, an' I judge you'll git along all right."
So she left them hurriedly, being greatly excited over the return of her brother and his danger.
The day passed, and the officers failed to appear in the vicinity of the mill, although the boys were expecting to see them.
Nor did Wade Miller trouble them.
When night came Frank and Barney grew impatient, for they were far from pleased with their lot, but they could do nothing but wait.
Two hours after nightfall a form suddenly appeared in the old mill, rising before the boys like a phantom, although they could not understand how the fellow came there.
In a flash Frank snatched out a revolver and pointed it at the intruder, crying, sternly:
"Stand still and give an account of yourself! Who are you, and what do you want?"
The figure moved into the range of the window, so that the boys could see him making strange gestures, pointing to his ears, and pressing his fingers to his lips.