“Come, come,” whispered Watson impatiently. “If they are on the scent, and we leave this hut, they will only run us to earth like hounds after a fox.”
The baying of dogs which were evidently accompanying the party gave a sudden and terrible effect to the force of Watson’s argument. And now the Vigilants, if such they were, came nearer and nearer. The three Northerners who listened so anxiously at the doorway could already detect the sound of voices.
“There’s but one thing for us to do,” quickly murmured Watson. “We must stay in this cabin.”
“But they won’t pass the place by,” urged Macgreggor. “If they know it to be deserted by a tenant this is the very reason for their looking in to see if we are hiding here. And when it comes to defending ourselves, how can we put up any sort of barricade?”
“When you can’t use force, or hide yourself, try a little strategy,” answered the soldier. “Can either of you fellows talk like a darky?”
“Not I,” said Macgreggor. Had he been asked if he could speak Hebrew, he would not have been more surprised.
“Can you, George?” asked Watson, as he shut the door.
“I might,” whispered George. “When I was up in Cincinnati we boys used——”
“Never mind what you boys did—only do as I tell you, and if you can give a good imitation you may save us from arrest, and worse!”
The horsemen now seemed to be within a few yards of the cabin. They had evidently halted for consultation. Meanwhile Watson was whispering some instructions to George. After he had finished he leaned against the door with his whole weight, and indicated to Macgreggor that he was to do the same thing. The latter obeyed in silence.