CHAPTER IV. AN ENCOUNTER.
After seeing Fritz scramble under the heap of straw in the corner of the hut, Dick's eyes roamed about the enclosure in search of a place to conceal himself. He could hear the Redcoats returning to the clearing after their fruitless pursuit of the two boys, and he knew that there was no time to waste before getting out of sight.
Suddenly he hit upon the best remaining hiding place, an old grain chest in the corner, and quickly raising the lid he climbed inside and lowered it. For awhile all was silent, and just as Dick had decided that it would be wise to get out of his new residence and look about, he heard the indistinct murmur of voices, and heavy footsteps sounded on the cabin floor.
"The rebel got out through the chimney," said the first voice.
"Go along. He was too fat to get out of there," said the second.
"Oh, I saw him, as I told you," repeated the first, "and if you hadn't been asleep on your job you'd have seen him, too."
"Well, I don't care how he got out. So long as he's gone we can't help it," the disgruntled trooper replied. "For one, I'm glad he's out of this cozy box. I'm going to camp in here myself."
"Ought to be room for four or five of us, I guess," another Redcoat chimed in. "And there's a nice stack of straw for my bed."