“Did you have one hungry boy here this morning?” asked Case.
Mrs. Peck replied in the affirmative, and Case and Jule exchanged significant glances. They understood very well who that hungry boy was, and, in answer to questions asked of the friendly old woman, were soon in possession of all the facts connected with Clay’s visit to the place and return to the river.
And while the boys were eating a generous breakfast prepared by their kind-hearted jailor, Alex, Clay and Uncle Zeke were discussing the possibility of reaching the Rambler by the cut-off across Horseshoe bend.
While they talked and planned two pair of black, suspicious eyes were gazing out at them from the undergrowth on the east side of the cove, and the dog was sniffing suspiciously in that direction.
CHAPTER XXII.—THE NIGHT-RIDERS.
While the two boys laid their plans by the embers of the camp-fire, Peck and his companion, the watchers, moved stealthily over in their direction and came within sound of their voices.
“Now, Uncle Zeke,” they heard Alex say, “if you can get us through the cut-off and bring us out to where the pirates have their ‘nest’, as you call it, we’ll give you ten dollars, and if we succeed in getting the Rambler away from them, we’ll take you down the river with us and get you a good job up north.”
“Ah’d hab to work up norf!” Uncle Zeke answered with a grin.
“You certainly would,” Clay laughed.
“Ah nebber did cotton to no work!” the negro replied.