“Hain’t woke up,” announced one of the two men who stood in the doorway.
“Mebby he never will,” answered the other.
“I don’t reckon it makes much difference, so long as we got two of ’em,” returned the first speaker. “What shall we do—let ’im sleep?”
“Yes.”
The man with the lantern strode over and peered down at the prostrate Overlander, while the prisoner, from beneath what seemed to be closed eyelids, got a good look into the swarthy, hard-lined face. Lieutenant Wingate would remember that face—he would remember the voices of both men—would know them wherever he heard them.
“Let ’im sleep. When he wakes up we’ll have something to say to ’im.” With that the two men went out, slamming the door behind them.
The lantern light had shown Hippy that he was in a log cabin. At his back was a window, or a window-opening, for which he was thankful, as it offered a possible way of escape. But how, in his present condition, could he hope to gain his liberty?
There was no answer to the Overlander’s mental question. First, he must regain his strength. The leather thongs with which he was bound interfered with his circulation, and his legs were numb. So were his arms, and his jaws ached from the gag that was between his teeth. In fact, Lieutenant Hippy Wingate did not remember ever to have suffered so many aches and pains at one time as he had at that moment.
He began his struggles again, but more with the idea of starting his circulation and gaining strength than with any immediate hope of escape. By rolling over several times he was able to reach the door, but having reached it he had no hands with which to open it. Hippy wanted to look out. Failing there, he bethought himself of the window, and rolled back across the floor to it. Exerting a great effort, he managed to work his head up to the window so he could see out.
The night was dark, but the Overlander was able to make out trees and rugged rocky walls, together with what appeared to be a dense mass of bushes. The scene was unlike anything he had seen in the State of Washington since his party had started on their outing.