This was the question Madeline had upon her lips to ask Stewart, but she could not speak it.
“No, there’s no danger,” replied Stewart, “but we’re taking precautions we all agreed on as best.”
Dorothy whispered that she believed Stewart lied. Castleton asked another question, and then Harvey followed suit. Mrs. Beck made a timid query.
“Please keep quiet and do as you’re told,” said Stewart, bluntly.
At this juncture, when the last of the baggage was being hauled up the cliff, Monty approached Madeline and removed his sombrero. His black face seemed the same, yet this was a vastly changed Monty.
“Miss Hammond, I’m givin’ notice I resign my job,” he said.
“Monty! What do you mean? What does Nels mean now, when danger threatens?”
“We jest quit. Thet’s all,” replied Monty, tersely. He was stern and somber; he could not stand still; his eyes roved everywhere.
Castleton jumped up from the log where he had been sitting, and his face was very red.
“Mr. Price, does all this blooming fuss mean we are to be robbed or attacked or abducted by a lot of ragamuffin guerrillas?”