"If da come, de jig am up!" groaned Old Ben.
"Let us hide upstairs," returned our hero. "Quick!"
There was no time to say more, and all three ran for the ladder leading to the loft of the cabin, which was but a story and a half high. Jack was the first up, and the negroes quickly followed, and then all lay low on the flooring, hardly daring to breathe.
In a moment more two men entered the cabin, shaking the water from their rubber cloaks as they did so. The two men were Dr. Mackey and St. John Ruthven.
"What a beastly night!" exclaimed St. John with a shiver. "When I left home to meet you I never expected such a storm as this. If I had, I shouldn't have come."
"I didn't look for such a rain myself," returned Dr. Mackey, throwing off his cloak. "Anybody around?"
"Don't seem to be, although there are muddy footprints on the floor."
The two gazed around, but Jack and his companions were wise enough to keep out of sight, and apparently satisfied that the cabin was deserted, Dr. Mackey flung himself on a bench and St. John did likewise.
"You said you wished to see me on important business," observed the spendthrift.
"I do," was the reply. "I wish to help both you and myself."