And now a quite perceivable creak came to his ears, but he did not appear to notice it. He smoked on with senses on the alert. Then came a moment of silence.
Then a quick “swish.” He knew the sound. Then rapid footsteps, very light and airy; and, after a moment, dead silence. The guard peered round the corner. Away in the darkness he could see a dusky form at the boat-landing; some one was down there. Somebody was tampering with the craft, too; he heard a paddle drop across the gunwale.
“It’s none o’ my business!” he shortly declared. “I ain’t here to watch the canoe. I’m here to watch the shanty.”
Bob listened for some time like a chased coon, with his ear in the air and his eyes shining cunningly. Then he heard, very faintly, some one climb up the huge log on the opposite side of the water. Then he went down to the shore, on the side of the island furthest from the landing. Drawing a revolver, he placed his hat on the ground, and fired. The ball took out a wee piece of the crown. Then he fired again and hallooed for help.
“Turn out! turn out!” he yelled. “Thar’s inimies on the island.”
He sprung into the water and splashed around noisily, firing twice in rapid succession. He could hear the night watch at the brown cabin cry, “Turn out! turn out!” and he could hear him coming down at a rapid run.
“This way, Bill!” he cried, running out of the water; “this way!”
In a few moments the whole robber force stood grouped around Griffith.
He told them he had been shot at, and showed the hole in his hat; he told them a foe was on the island. A search immediately began, and Downing darted toward the cabin.
The door was open. Wild with apprehension he struck a light and peered into the cabin.