Page:Milady at Arms (1937).pdf/232

 "Hist!" she whispered, glancing uneasily over her shoulder. "Dost not hear aught?"

Zenas hstened intently. "Nay," he answered, then. "Ye do imagine noises, Sally!"

But the girl, all at once, dragged him back softly into some underbrush.

"Ye must ha' Indian blood i' ye, Sally, for I hear naught," Zenas was beginning, when a little hand was clamped over his mouth and he subsided into injured silence. As he crouched there, however, he, too, caught the sound of approaching footsteps, and as Sally's hand was removed from his lips, he tensed into an attitude as motionless as the girl's. Then, as they watched, two swift, silent forms came out of the night, passed them like shadows and descended the short, sharp bank to the river edge.

Now, however, came the sound of low, rough voices, subdued cautiously. Zenas threw himself noiselessly upon his stomach and Sally unthinkingly imitated him. Together, they inched forward toward the bank until the voices below them became audible and they could hear what was said.

"Where be the boat? I see it not!"

"Zounds, I left it here, hidden i' the grass!"

"Well, it be not here now!"

"Nay, hast not looked for it! Ye be too lazy, I say!"

"Ha! not looked, say ye! And lazy, say ye! I'