Kenton held up his hand for them to listen. A moment after the faint crack of a rifle echoed far away in the rear.
CHAPTER VI.
DANGER ALL ROUND.
Boone looked grave, Ruby turned a shade paler, and Kenton smiled grimly.
“Ye see, cunnel,” said the scout, “I’ve b’en suspicioning them cusses mout be arter us all the while, and I’ve b’en kinder on the watch to the rear. Thar’s a party of the imps arter the little gal, and they’ve got good trackers. Guess they’ve b’en huntin’ up and down stream arter her trail, and got to the island at last. Ef they have, they know the hull thing now, and they’re comin’ arter us hellaty-clip. ’Tain’t so middlin’ difficult to pick up our trail, ye know, and what with them behind, and them in front, we’ll hev a right smart chance of trouble to flax ’em all, and git into the fort to-night.”
“That shot was not three miles off,” said Ruby, suddenly. “What do you think it was, Mr. Kenton?”
“That? Oh, that was a signal from the cuss as found our trail,” said Kenton, carelessly. “It’s middlin’ likely thur spread out all over the woods huntin’ your trail, Miss; and that shot ’ll call ’em in.”
“I thought so,” said the girl, quietly. “Well, then, gentlemen, why shouldn’t we cross the trail of the party ahead, make a circuit, and come into the town on the other side? They won’t watch that so closely.”
Boone, who had been leaning thoughtfully on his rifle all this time, now raised his head.