“A white man, I should guess from their size,” the boy was saying to himself, “Indians nearly always have small—”
“Stand!”
It was the voice of Duff, and as Ree looked up, startled by the unexpected command, he gazed at the muzzle of a rifle in the hands of that scoundrel, not a score of yards distant.
“I’ve been hunting you this good while, and now, by the eternal, I’ve got ye,” the villain said.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CAVE OF THE FORTUNE HUNTERS.
“Get up!”
It was Duff who spoke, and he accompanied the command with a volley of oaths.
In wonderfully quick time Duff went through John’s pockets and the pouch which hung at his belt, taking everything he found, which, fortunately, was nothing more than a hunting knife and pistol.
“Take his gun and push out fast, ahead, Dexter. I’ll follow close behind, and you, young fellow, keep just behind your good friend here, and just ahead of me, and attempt no monkey business, or I’ll blow your brains out! Now, march!”
With a quick glance around to get his bearings, John walked off as Dexter led the way. He noticed regretfully that it was now quite dark in the woods, and the wind was again blowing so hard that their tracks through the snow would be quickly obscured.