Dropping flat on the instant, he listened for the response, peering about to see if he had run into an ambuscade.
But as the answer rang out from the opposite side, he realized that some of the men had reached the cabin.
Surprised at finding himself between them, in danger of discovery by one party or the other, Cole lost no time in wriggling down the little hill.
It was enough for him to know that some of the man-hunters had reached Brett's ahead of Jesse and himself and, without trying to ascertain how strong was their force, he bounded away to apprise the world-famous desperado of the situation.
"By thunder! It's a lucky thing you went ahead, boy," exclaimed the latter as his pal imparted the startling information.
"It would have been a pretty mess if we'd stumbled into the whole kit and boodle of 'em.
"We'd have had about as much show of getting out alive as a snowball has in the hot place.
"But we can't stay here. They'll get suspicious if we don't show up right soon and scour the woods for us. Besides, we've got to get Clell to some place where we can put him to bed. I looked at his wound while you were gone. It's a nasty one. His left shoulder's shattered. I don't believe he'll ever be able to use it again.
"The question is, where can we take him where he'll be safe?"