With a gasp of dismay, Judy thrust Kathleen back into a thicket, and herself crouched behind a rock.
It was well that the girls took refuge, for Pete’s loud barking had not gone unheard.
A dark figure appeared silhouetted in the opening of the cave. Judy could not see the face of the heavy-set man, but she knew instantly from his build that he was not Bart Ranieau.
“There’s that confounded mutt again!” the girls heard the man exclaim. “He’ll give us away!”
“Slug him with a rock!” came advice from inside the cave.
The man in the entranceway, heaved a stone which missed its mark by mere inches. Pete barked the louder.
“Put a bullet through him,” was the next gruff advice.
“Don’t dare,” the girls heard the reply. “A shot would be heard too far.”
“If we don’t get out of this hole pretty soon, that dog will have the whole town down on us,” the other growled. “Quiet him somehow.”
“Don’t pay any attention to him and he’ll shut up,” the first man said. “If we can coax him in here, I’ll wring his neck!”