Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/207



several moments the man and the youths remained motionless, their eyes focused on the grim silhouette. They had no doubt but what it was Big Nick, and a sinister phase of his pose was the manner in which he held his rifle, as if prepared to shoot at a second’s notice.

Gently edging backwards Abner indicated for the youths to follow him. Then he softly whispered, “In some way he is led to believe we turned in this direction. I had expected he’d make for the mountain and try to cut us off in the morning.”

“What are we to do?” murmured Bub, all of his good humor deserting him as he pictured the silent form on the rock.

“We’ll lie low for a bit, but we must git out of here before the moon crawls any higher,” replied Abner.

“Does he know we are near here?” asked Stanley, expecting every moment to have the half-breed creep into the narrow passage.

“He’s puzzled,” said Abner. “He doesn’t 182