That afternoon, toward nightfall, he was permitted to go outside in the open air, with two armed guards watching over him.
Frank inhaled the open air with a sense of gratitude, for the hut had become stuffy and oppressive. He looked around, noting the surroundings, without betraying any great interest in the location. He saw that all about the hills rose to enclose the valley, but conjectured that the party had entered from the south or southeast.
By this time the men were interested in him, and they looked him over curiously. Four of them were playing cards, and Merry sat down on the ground where he could watch the game.
"You don't want to be makin' no remarks about what keerds ye sees in anybody's hand, young man," growled one of them, whose cards Merry could see.
Frank smiled.
"I'm not quite that fresh," he said. "I have played the game occasionally myself. If I had a chance to sit in, I might give you some points."
They laughed derisively at that, for the idea that this smooth-faced youth could give them points at poker seemed preposterous.
"Why, ef you got inter this game we'd skin the eye-teeth outer ye!" declared one.
"You'd be easy pluckin'," said another.
"It would be a shame to rob ye," sneered a third.[Pg 45] "But seein's you ain't got no dust we won't have that pleasure."