At last as a faint streak of dawn began to show itself above the eastern horizon, the ruffians drew close together and held a whispered consultation, the result of which was the decision to give up attacking here, leave at once, and hastening on ahead of the travellers, post themselves at a certain spot favorable for an ambuscade, where they would play the highwayman, "relieving the fellers o' their plunder," as they expressed it, and letting them go with their lives if they were wise enough not to show fight, but taking Clendenin prisoner for the sake of slaking Brannon's thirst for revenge and obtaining Lyttleton's offered reward.
The first part of their plan was at once put into execution, and with no small sense of relief our travellers heard them depart.
"Up, boys, now's our time," said the hunter; "day's breakin', the thieves has left for the present, and we'd best git out o' this instanter."
The others being of the same opinion, they hastily gathered up their guns and saddle-bags, unbarred the door, and as nearly in a body as might be, the hunter taking the lead, descended the step-ladder to the room below.
The woman nodding in her chair beside the smouldering embers of the fire, was its only occupant.
She started up, saying, "Why you're airly, ain't ye? I hadn't thought of gettin' breakfast yet."
"Never mind, we don't want any, mother," said Johnson dryly.
"Why, ye ain't goin' a'ready? ye'd better stay for breakfast. I'll not be long gettin' it."
"No," they answered, "we must start at once."
"Ye didn't sleep much, I think," she remarked sullenly, following them to the door.