At first the youth could not make out if the figure was a man or an animal. He strained his eyes and then made out the form of a person.
At once our hero thought of Link Merwell and those with him. It must be one of their enemies, and if so, what had brought him to this spot at such an hour of the night?
"Maybe he is after our horses," reasoned the youth, and then he dropped down again and rolled over to where Roger was lying. He shook his chum and at the same time placed a hand over the other's mouth.
"Roger! Don't make any noise!" he whispered. "Somebody is coming here in the dark."
The senator's son awoke and heard what was said. Then, as Dave took away his hand, he whispered:
"Where is he? Who is it?"
"There he is," and Dave pointed with his hand. "I don't know who it is, but I guess it is one of Link's crowd."
"I'll wake up Phil, and we can watch the rascal," said Roger, and this was done, although not without difficulty, for the shipowner's son was inclined to give a yell when aroused from such a sound slumber.
"Who—who is it?" he stammered. "Say, maybe we had better get our pistols ready!" And he felt for his weapon.
"I've got mine all ready," answered Dave.