“You see, the convicts cannot get out of there without our seeing them. In that case I will use my automatic revolver,” added Mr. Gilroy.
“Oh! I didn’t know you had one,” sighed the Captain in great relief.
“Yes, and I was about to say that you and the two girls had better creep out and get under the heap of spruce tips that is piled in the old hut, while I sit here and guard the wall,” Mr. Gilroy returned.
Ruth and Betty refused to leave him, however, so the four sat and waited in the darkness.
After a long interval of absolute silence, a shrill whistle was heard down the trail. Then a voice behind the wall said: “D’ye t’ink enny one’s got a clue?”
“Try to see thu dat crack in de wall—see ef yuh kin see any light in dat room?”
“Not a flicker—black as pitch out dere.”
“Dat shows dey’s gone, ’cause no woman’ll sit in de dark widda coupla o’ convicks loose in de woods,” harshly laughed one.
“I wisht you’se coul’ help lift me foot outen dis hole what’s eatin’ me heart out,” groaned the man who evidently had injured his foot.
“S-she! Dere goes dat whistle agin. Mebbe dem cops is comin’ back dis way.”