“I did not see one,” said Nat, with a smile. “I guess last night was not their night to come out. Have you got my things handy?”
“Yes sir. They are right up here where I put them. But what has become of your pardner?”
“You scared him out.”
“Do you mean that he has run away? Well, I am sorry for that,” said the storekeeper, on receiving an affirmative nod from Nat.
“I am not sorry for it,” said Nat to himself. “It gave me just the chance I was waiting for—to dig without his knowing it.”
Without waiting for the man to ask him any more questions Nat picked up the things he had left behind, including the pick-ax and spade, and turned to go out when the storekeeper evidently wanted some other matters settled.
“You said yesterday that you were going up to them woods to look for timber,” said he. “Now what do you want to do with those things!” he went on, pointing to the spade and pick-ax.
“There are some other things we wanted to fix,” said Nat, without an instant’s hesitation. “We are going to put in some crops there, and we want to repair the old man’s fence which has become torn down during the war.”
“Oh!” said the man, staring rather hard at Nat. “You will need an ax, then.”
“That reminds me. I came pretty near forgetting it.”