“Yas, yas! An’ I’ll stan’ by you!� Old Solomon Gabe ended with an awful, sobbing shriek.
Anne and Dick, cowering in the hole, felt as if wild, bloodthirsty beasts were on their trail. The fierce voices, the hurrying feet were close at hand. But they passed by. They went toward the ladder. And then voices and footsteps died away in the distance.
CHAPTER XVI
AS the voices died away, Dick sprang up and pushed aside the poles.
“Come on, Anne!� he said. “Here! Take my hand. Now! We must get home—quick!�
“Oh, Dick! What if they come back? What if we meet them?�
“We’ll not meet them,� he answered. “They’re going to The Village, looking for you. And he’s planning to rob the post office. He may shoot Cousin Will. We must hurry and let them know at home.�
He took Anne’s hand and they groped through the tunnel and into the mine opening.
“Why, it’s night!� Anne whispered.
“Late,� said Dick. “It was dark when I came. The moon’s up.�