“Well, me laddy, how have you made out during me absince? Have you—-”
He paused and looked about him.
“Begorrah, but no laddy is here. Can it be that he has strayed off, and started to Chiny so as to head me off? I say! Fred, me laddy, have ye—-”
“Sh! sh!”
And as the hurried aspirate was uttered, the boy came running silently out of the darkness, with his hand raised in a warning way.
“What is it?” asked Mickey, in amazement; “have ye found another dead man?”
“No; he's a live one!”
“What do yez mane? Explain yerself.”
The lad pointed to the opening over their heads, and motioned to his friend not to draw too near the camp-fire. There was danger in doing so.
“There's somebody up there,” he added, “and they're looking for us.”