Hopwood did not wait to hear any more. With a growl of rage he jumped across the railroad track and ran up the western slope with all the speed his tired legs could muster.
CHAPTER XXVII
SCOTT ARRIVES AT THE VILLAGE
Scott and the marshal started down the mountain in the direction of the firing. “Where is that still?” the marshal asked. “We might as well have a look at it if it is up this way.”
“It won’t be much out of the way,” Scott said. “We are about there now.” He was so anxious to get to the village that he would not have consented to stop at all except that he thought he might find Hopwood at the still, and he was crazy to know what was going on. He led the marshal down the mountain at a run.
“Here’s the trail to it,” he exclaimed.
When they came to the tunnel the marshal slipped ahead with his revolver in his hand. “Let me pack this gun in there ahead,” he whispered. “Not likely to be any one there, but if there should be, he might be peevish.”
They made their way cautiously through the rhododendron and paused at the other end to watch and listen. There was no evidence of any one and the marshal ran quickly across the clearing to the cabin. Scott was close at his heels. There was no one there.
“This is a fine outfit,” the marshal exclaimed enthusiastically. “Big enough to supply the county. No wonder I could not find it. They are a foxy bunch. Put it on government land, too.”
One glance had shown Scott that Hopwood was not there and he was anxious to be off. “Come on,” he exclaimed, “you can destroy this thing any time. I’ve got to see what is happening down there. That may be my crew fighting.”
“Just the same, I am going to fix this thing before I go,” the marshal replied coolly. “Any one who is slick enough to put this thing in here might be pretty clever in getting it out. I’ll take no chances.”