The hungry boys needed no second invitation but fell to work on the tender juicy ham and sugary yams with hearty appetites while their host as he ate, watched them with evident pleasure at their enjoyment. When all had finished, he put away the dishes, filled his corn-cob pipe, and leaned back in his chair against the wall.
"You-alls can't go back to whar yu left the captain an' the little nigger to-night, noways," he observed.
"No," Charley agreed, "but we would like to start back early in the morning if we can get a wagon or a boat."
"Thar ain't no fitten road for a wagon leading up the coast," observed their host. "I owns that little sloop anchored down thar by the dock. I reckon, you-alls could make out with her. I don't reckon them Wrights would stop you-alls from going if they understood jis' how things stood. I don't 'low they would be so pesky pisen mean as all that. I'd like to go with you-alls an' see that ole captain an' that little nigger, I sho' would."
"We would like to have you go with us," said Walter, eagerly. "Why can't you?"
"'Cause I don't ever expect to leave this hyar cabin alive," said his host, calmly.
The boys stared at him in uneasy astonishment.
"No, I ain't crazy," said the man quietly. "Hush, jis' lis'en' a bit."
A long prolonged growl came from one of the dogs outside. The man arose and taking up his rifle stepped over to the loophole beckoning to the lads to follow. The moon lit up the little clearing almost as light as day. The dogs were moving around outside, sniffing and uttering low growls.