The moon was out when they took the trail that led to Ed’s cabin. By moving along single file in the shadows they were able to keep themselves concealed.
They had covered more than half the distance to the cabin when of a sudden Berley, who was in the lead, stopped short to press her companions back into the deeper shadows.
“Some—some one skulking about the cabin!” she whispered tensely.
And there he was. There could be no doubt about it. The moon, skirting a corner of their cabin, left there for a space of seconds the wavering shadow of a man. Ten seconds passed, and the shadow vanished.
“Do—do you think it’s the kidnapers?” Despite her bravest efforts the girl could not prevent her teeth from chattering.
“Don’t know who it is,” the scout grumbled in a hoarse whisper. “Only one way to deal with a skulker. Go after him!
“Look!” He turned to Red. “In another moment a cloud will be over the moon. Only a small cloud. Soon pass. But time enough. When it gets dark, you go scooting down the Tobin’s Harbor trail. He went that way. Go down two hundred feet or more, then drop off into the bush. I’ll go round the cabin and come in from the left. When the moon comes out I’ll flush him some way. After that the best man wins.
“You—you’d better stay here,” he said to Berley.
Berley did not stay there. As Red went skulking down that trail in the dark, she followed. She was afraid, but being in the darkness alone with prowlers about, who might carry her away, was worse than being on the firing line.
Obeying instructions, Red followed the trail a hundred paces or less, then dropped away into the shadows.