It was dangerous work, in those days of unspeakable atrocities committed by Espato’s gang of outlaws, to attempt to investigate a mysterious fire in the woods, especially alone.
Phil was fully alive to the dangers of his position, but the hope that he might discover something to the advantage of the Rangers, drove him on.
Frequently casting glances over his shoulders at the threatening shadows of the woodland, he made his way cautiously, step by step, as silent as a cat, toward the fire.
Twice a twig cracked under his foot with a noise that seemed to him like the report of a pistol shot and he stopped dead in his tracks tensely on the alert, ready to spring back toward the spot where he had tethered his horse, should the need of action arrive.
But he heard nothing except the gentle sounds of the woodland at dusk, the twittering of sleepy birds, the faint trickling of running water somewhere in the distance. And each time he crept on with greater caution than before, almost afraid to breathe for fear the sound might betray him.
Once he had the impression that he was being watched, that someone was close to him, keeping stealthy step with him.
Driven by the vividness of this impression he twice whirled suddenly about on his heels, hoping to trap the stalker, if he really were being followed. But nothing was visible in the deepening dusk of the woods. Chiding himself for the obsession, he straightened his shoulders and crept on doggedly toward the sinister mystery of the camp fire.
Yet, reason with himself as he might, he could not shake off that weird impression of an unseen adversary, stalking him, warily.
“Phil, old boy,” he muttered, as on hands and knees, he wormed and wriggled himself toward the illumined space, “guess you’d better go home and sit in a rocking chair with your hands folded—if you’re going to get many fool ideas like this.”
There came the sound of voices now but the owners of them, evidently realizing the need for caution, were speaking so guardedly that Phil knew he would have to get quite close to them before he could catch what they were saying.