Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/374

 be unsafe to deal harshly with Abner. If even one escaped the bloodshed would have been in vain.

“Wonder if that Injun is trying to throw us?” whispered Joe.

“How fer did ye chase them, Nick?” inquired Pete.

“All over. All day. No find. Come here to git help. Catch um easy when all help.”

“Did they come this way?” eagerly inquired Ben.

Nick nodded. “Come this way. Hide over there,” and he pointed to the east. “Need men beat up woods and scare um out. I watch on edge and catch um.”

Abner’s heart trembled within him. If the boys blundered on to the camp all was lost. If he could but warn them he was a captive he believed Bub would go down stream and meet Noisy Charlie. And his eyes roved desperately about the camp.

Regardless of betraying their presence Ben had heaped on some pine which was now sending up a tall column of yellowish smoke. Abner’s eyes brightened. If Bub only remembered to climb trees he would see the smoke and should know it was made by the enemy.

“But if there was two smokes he’d know I