“Hello the cabin!” called a rough voice.
Miss Briggs pinched her cheeks to bring back the color that she knew had left them, then summoning all her courage she stepped to the door. That courage almost failed her when she saw before her six of the roughest looking men she ever had seen. They were mounted on lean, tough horses; there was a rifle in every saddle boot, and they wore side arms as well.
“The Murrays!” gasped the girl. “Sam Petersen knew whereof he spoke.”
CHAPTER VII
THE DISCOVERY
“Hawk Murray!” exclaimed Elfreda Briggs, as one of the horsemen rode around the hedge and up to the door of the cabin. Elfreda recognized the man by his long hooked nose that really resembled the beak of a hawk. It was not a pleasant face to look upon.
“Mornin’, Miss,” he greeted, with an attempt at politeness.
“Good morning, sir,” replied Miss Briggs firmly, essaying a smile as she said it, though she did not feel like smiling, for the eyes of the rider seemed to be searching her very soul.
“Do ye live here?” was the next question.
“For the present, yes.”
“Ye don’t reckon ye’ve seen a stranger on a bay mare passin’ here this mornin’, do ye?” he questioned, leaning over and peering into the face of the Overland girl.