"But he wasn't here when we came," continued Miss Hardy. "The house was deserted and in darkness when we found it, just as the storm came on in earnest."
"And the fire?" said Genesee.
"There was none," answered the boy. "The ashes were stone-cold. I noticed it; so your Injun hadn't had any fire all day."
"All day!" repeated the man, going to the door and looking out. "That means a long tramp, and to-night—"
"And to-night is a bad one for a tramp back," added Jim.
"Yes," agreed Genesee, "that's what I was thinking."
If there was a breath of relief in the words, both were too occupied with the potatoes in the ashes to notice it. He shut the door directly as the wind sent a gust of rain inside, and then turned again to the pirates at the fire-place.
"What did you find to cook?" he asked, glancing at the "lay-out," as Jim called it. "I haven't been here since yesterday, and am afraid you didn't find much—any fresh meat?"
Miss Hardy shook her head.
"Salt meat and eggs, that's all," she said.