"I didn't see a soul. Maybe they haven't come up yet."
"That is so."
"We can wait a while and see," suggested Bill Brown. "If we wake the widder we may scare 'em off."
They waited after that for another spell, but nobody appeared, nor did they hear any sound out of the ordinary. Then it was resolved to arouse Mrs. Fairchild and wait in the house for the coming of the robbers.
"That is, if they are coming," said Farmer Brown. "Maybe the boy made a mistake."
"I am certain I made no mistake," answered Dave, positively. "But they may have changed their plans."
"Humph!" muttered Mike Marcy. "If it's a trick—But we'll talk that over later."
The door had an old-fashioned knocker, and this Farmer Brown used lightly at first and then with vigor. To the surprise of all in the party nobody answered the summons.
"The widder must be away!" cried Farmer Brown. "Funny,—she was home at sundown. Where would she go after dark?"
"Perhaps she's been murdered," suggested Bill.