‘Why wouldn’t we?’ returned Ephraim. ‘It’s on this side er the wood, and not so far away et thet. Come on.’
They hugged the edge of the wood, and after walking for twenty minutes or so, again reached the clearing in which the log cabin stood. No one was in sight; but still, instead of approaching it from the open side, they preferred to skirt the wood a little further and reconnoitre through the window in case of accidents.
At last they stood opposite to the window, and here Ephraim pulled Lucius back.
‘You stay hyar, Luce,’ he said. ‘I’ll go forward and see ef the coast is cl’ar.’
‘Not at all,’ answered Lucius; ‘you’re always doing that sort of thing. I’ll go for a change.’
‘No, lemme go,’ protested Ephraim. ‘What’s the use er runnin’ yerself inter danger ’thout any reason?’
‘The danger is the same for you as for me,’ retorted Lucius. ‘I tell you I am going.’
‘Then we’ll both go,’ said Ephraim decidedly, and accordingly they went.
Cautiously approaching the window, they peeped in and surveyed the cabin. To their great relief it was empty; but before Lucius knew what he was about, Ephraim stole quietly round the hut and surveyed the open space.
‘It’s all cl’ar, Luce,’ he said in a tone of satisfaction. ‘I don’t see nary a Yank. They’re not fur orf, though, fer the camp is jest beyond the woods thar.’