The boys closely watched all his movements, and told themselves, privately, that perhaps they had done a foolhardy thing in coming down there.
CHAPTER XXIV. ROBBERS.
"You're a coward!" exclaimed Tom, shaking his fist at the frightened beagle, and forgetting in his anger that this was the first time the animal had ever refused to yield ready obedience to his slightest wish. "I'll trade you off for the meanest yellow cur in Bellville, and hire a cheap boy to steal the cur. Come back here and see what there is in the cabin, I tell you!"
"Don't scold him," interposed Joe. "I don't much like the idea of venturing in there myself, but here goes."
As he spoke he drew back the hammer of his rifle, and, with steady, unfaltering steps, walked into the cabin, little dreaming of the astounding things that were to grow out of this simple act.
Tom and Bob promptly moved up to support him, but the sequel proved that it wasn't necessary, for there was no one in the cabin to oppose them.
When Joe announced this fact, which he did as soon as his eyes became accustomed to the darkness, so that he could see what there was in front of him, Tom wanted to know where the robbers were, but that was a point on which his companions could not enlighten him.
"They have gone off on a plundering expedition, of course," continued Tom, "and there's no telling when they will be back. We don't want to let them catch us here."