And then the three Seymours ran down the hill to where Jo was waiting for them in the shadow of the woods, for he had turned to see whether they were following. He was standing in a spot that was hidden from the entrance to the path into the woods.
Vaguely Ann wished that Helen had not come; she was such a little girl.
CHAPTER X THE FIRE IN THE WOODS
Just beyond lay the deer trail that had grown so familiar to them all. A little fringe of undergrowth to be broken through with the utmost caution, stooping low to avoid as many branches as possible, and then they were on the trail in Indian file creeping stealthily toward the swamp pond with Jo ahead. As they drew nearer they could smell the wood smoke in the air.
This was even more exciting than stalking deer, Ann thought, as she went forward noiselessly, hardly daring to draw a full breath.
Jo stopped for a whispered conference.
“As we draw close,” he instructed, “we had better scatter, so the noise won’t come always from the same direction if we step on twigs or stumble. And that will give us all a chance to light out and make our getaway if somebody is there by the fire. I’ll take the center. Ben and Ann swing out on either side of me and Helen had best stay right here behind me.”
So the band took the formation that Robin Hood suggested and bore down upon the fire in a wide semicircle, within sight of one another, if one knew where to look and peered through the green leaves of the underbrush. Through the scrub growth and briers, now, they could see the glow of flames and hear a murmur of men’s voices speaking in low tones.