“It’s only an old still that’s been there for years,” reassured Miss Howard, failing to understand. She slipped from her horse. “Now we must have a fire the very first thing. That’s the place,” pointing to what seemed a natural fireplace in the rocky wall where lay a heap of ashes. “There’s a kind of chimney above it, so we won’t be smoked out.”
“Why, there’s a fine bed of coals!” Abner presently exclaimed, uncovering them.
“That’s fortunate; it’ll be such a saving of matches. I think we can pick up plenty of stuff to make a good fire, then we must go out and forage for enough to last through the night.” Miss Howard seemed as cheerful and matter-of-fact as though she were in her own home, while in reality she was much perplexed at the unmistakable evidences that the place had, very recently, been inhabited. It was much too late in the season for surveyors, or parties in search of botanical or geological specimens. They might have been hunters lured to the mountains by the unusually pleasant weather and the prospect of returning with a full game bag. She tried to think of the latter possibility; at any rate the young people’s suspicions must not be aroused.
In a few moments Abner and Gincy had a brisk fire burning. Talitha was feeding the horses and mules some corn she found in the saddlebags. “They’ll have a pretty slim supper, I’m afraid, and they’re so hungry—I wonder why Martin doesn’t come,” she broke off, looking anxiously toward the entrance. “Do you suppose he could have missed the way?”
“I think more likely the sorrel is having a hard time to get along,” said her teacher. “But if he isn’t here soon Abner and I will go to meet him.”
The glow of the fire lighted the cave, and the young woman glanced around with apparent carelessness, but her eyes were keen and watchful. Behind the old still she picked up a man’s coat. It had not lain there long, for it was only slightly damp and no musty smell clung to it. She quietly tucked it into a niche of the wall. Over by the fire the girls were examining the contents of the saddlebags in an effort to eke out a respectable supper. “I wish I hadn’t eaten so much at noon,” she heard Gincy say. “I didn’t need it and I feel just as hungry as though I hadn’t had a bite of breakfast or dinner, either.”
Miss Howard did not allow herself to think of the consequences should they find themselves hemmed in by snowdrifts the next morning, but she was again reminded that Martin had not yet appeared. Something must be done immediately. She hurried over to the young people, and with their help two large torches were made. One was lighted. “We may not need the other, but we’ll keep it for an emergency,” she said. “Stay right here and don’t worry; we’ll be back soon.” Miss Howard and Abner hurried out of the cave.
How dark it had grown! The young woman was startled as, with torch held aloft, she peered out at the end of the passageway. There were no signs of Martin anywhere.
“You’d better call to him,” she said to Abner.
“Halloo! halloo!” the lad repeated again and again, and then they both listened. The echoes died away in the hollows of the great hills, but no answering call came back to them.