“I am afraid that we have sort of made a mess of things, Phil. We haven’t given Barrows enough credit, or else we have been too sure of ourselves. There is a good chance, however, and this note makes me think it highly likely that Jean LeBlanc may have captured Dick again. You know he seems determined to do him harm, even more so than us, for he and Dick have tangled up three or four times now, and each time Dick has managed to elude him and make more or less of a fool of him. This naturally would make an even more implacable enemy of the vengeful halfbreed. Let’s get back to camp and wait awhile. We will pry about the entire camp to see if there is any sign of Dick, and also we will be safer for the time being. Don’t think I am cowardly, only we want to take no chances if we are to help Dick and at the same time complete our mission here.”
They returned to the camp, and as they walked, Garry tore the hermit’s note into tiny, indistinguishable fragments, throwing each tiny particle to the winds.
The day dragged on, although they tried to make it pass quickly by searching through the camp. Night came at last, and they turned in. Before retiring they arranged for alternate watches, and also decided that on the morrow they would insist that a message be sent for Mr. Boone. The boys had almost decided that rather than allow Dick to fall into greater danger by protracting the time of a systematic search, they would tell what they had learned to Mr. Boone and let him force the issue of the stolen timber.
It was nearly eleven o’clock and Phil, who was on watch, was about to wake Garry for his turn at sentry duty, when he heard a cautious fumbling at the door, and the sound of a low malediction when the intruder found that it was locked. There was silence for a moment, and then Phil heard the sound of someone breathing heavily at the window. He crept noiselessly to Garry’s bunk, and holding his hand over his chum’s mouth lest he make a sudden noise, shook him awake. Garry was aroused in an instant, and all sleep vanished. He knew from feeling Phil’s hands against his mouth that caution was needed.
Having roused Garry, Phil crept back to the window just in time to hear a faint swish. Instantly he knew that the intruder was cutting the double thickness of heavy mosquito bar with a knife, and guided by the sound, clubbed his rifle and brought it down with full force. There was a howl of pain, and the sound of someone running away at top speed.
“Must have clipped that chap either on the head or the hand,” whispered Phil. “Guess he won’t be here again tonight.”
“Looks as though the war was on. You roll in and I’ll watch for a couple of hours now. Good thing we used our old trick of sentry work, or we might be in a bad position right now,” answered Garry.
For another hour nothing happened. Then there was a pounding at the door and Barrows’ voice was heard calling the names of Garry and Phil. Suspecting a trick, both boys reached for their rifles, and after lighting a candle, Garry covered the door with his rifle while Phil opened it.
Barrows stepped in and seemed to be taken back by the sight of the rifle leveled at his head.
“Why the military greeting?” he asked with an attempt at good humor.