So, knowing the value of time in an affair like this, Elmer hastened to crawl behind the big box.
Anyone entering the room could not see him, nor would his crouching form be visible from the hole in the shack wall, intended as a window.
At the same time Elmer had so contrived things that, by making use of an old bunch of straw which he allowed to hang over the edge of the table, he was easily able to keep watch upon both openings, the window and the door.
Then he waited patiently for something to happen.
Some minutes passed.
Outside all seemed as quiet as a Sunday in Hickory Ridge.
The sound of boyish voices had utterly died away, proving that Matty must be showing considerable skill in leading his detachment along a trail.
Indeed, once the presence of human beings no longer acted as a disturbing element, a little frisky red squirrel hopped up in the open window and peeped within the shack.
Perhaps the little chap was more or less at home there. At any rate Elmer was pleased to see him sit up on his haunches and begin to gnaw at a stray nut he had evidently discovered.
To his mind the red squirrel was apt to serve in place of a vidette. Should anyone approach the shack now the little nut-cracker would give warning by frisking away in sudden alarm.