We made no reply to Luke Redman’s threats, but showed him by our looks that we were not at all concerned. We examined his bonds, to satisfy ourselves that they were secure, and then crawled back to our places by the fire—all except Duke, who pulled his collar up around his ears, turned down the brim of his hat, and walked out into the storm.
A few minutes afterward, I heard him talking to his horse, and that was the last I remembered until a hand was laid on my shoulder and a voice whispered in my ear that it was one o’ clock and time for me to go on guard.
I raised myself on my elbow, and, looking about me, saw that the aspect of things had changed considerably during the hour I had been asleep.
The rain and sleet had turned to snow, the trees and bushes were loaded with it, and the air was filled with the rapidly-falling flakes. If you have ever had any experience in this line, you know there is no fun in turning out of a warm bed to stand picket in a snow-storm.
“Is every thing all right?” I asked, glancing toward the prisoner, who was as wide awake as he had been an hour ago.
“Yes, so far, all’s well. But there’s one thing I don’t exactly like, and that is the way Luke Redman conducts himself. He has been seen sitting up ever since I have been on guard listening with all the ears he’s got, and acting as though he was expecting some one. Keep your eyes open, Joe, and give the signals of distress the instant you see the least sign of danger.”
As Duke stretched himself out on the leaves I picked up his hunting-horn and walked out of the shanty. I threw an armful of wood on the fire and turned to look at the prisoner.
“Oh, I am safe enough yet,” said he, as I examined the straps with which his arms were confined, “but I won’t be so long. Thar’s somethin’ goin’ to happen, if you only knowed it.”
“Let it happen,” I replied. “If the Swamp Dragoons show their faces about here, they’ll get the best dressing down they ever heard of.” I walked off without waiting to hear what Luke Redman had to say in reply, and started to make the circuit of the camp, keeping a good lookout on all sides and stopping now and then to listen.
I neither saw nor heard any thing suspicious; and after stumbling about among the bushes for ten minutes, I reached the spot from which I had started on my round.