“Git outen here!” said Matt, as soon as he could make himself heard. “Scatter! They’re comin’!”
“Who’s comin’?” asked the old woman, who was the only one who could speak.
“Swan, an’ all the rest of them fellers that went out to ’rest them robbers.”
“Did they ketch ’em?”
“Now jest listen at you! Do you reckon I stopped to talk to ’em, dog-gone ye? I dug out soon as I heard ’em comin’ through the woods.”
“Where was they?”
“Up there by the cove where our camp was burned, an’ headin’ straight for it.”
“The cove?” gasped Jake.
“Yes, the cove, you ongrateful scamp, an’ goin’ as straight t’wards it as they could go. They’re bound to nose out something there,” said Matt, remembering that he must have made a good many wide and plain trails while he was roaming around looking for Jake’s treasure, “an’ if they find them two grip-sacks that you left there last night I wouldn’t be in them ragged clothes of your’n, Jakey, for no money in this broad world. You are a purty chap to go an’ find six thousand dollars an’ hide it from your pap, I do think. Now scatter out an’ make for that there cove as quick as it is safe. Then we’ll be on their trail, ’stead of havin’ them on our’n. Jakey, stay where I can put my hands on you when I want you.”
These words recalled the boy’s senses and brought his power of action back to him. He did not know which he stood the most in fear of—his father’s wrath, the probable loss of his money, or the sheriff and his posse; but he did know that he was not safe where he was, so he caught up his rifle, which rested against a log close at hand, and took to his heels. Sam was frightened, too, but not to the same degree that Matt and Jake were, because he was not as guilty. He kept his wits about him, and proved by his subsequent movements that he could act as promptly and intelligently in a crisis as his brother could. When Jake disappeared, and Matt and his wife ran into the cabin to collect the few articles of value they possessed, previous to seeking safety in flight, Sam stood and communed thus with himself: