Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-02-04
CHAPTER XIV.

Yes, the cabin was deserted Of every
one except myself. l pronounced the
namo of Pete several times, but there
was no response. The door was closed
and everything below appeared to be as
when | climbed the ladder in the early
hours Of the morning, except that the
latchstring hung outside, so as to ad-
NIT any one who chose to pull it,
was hungry, but there was not
particle of food in sight, nor any odor
to denote that my man had cooked q
mouthful for himself. A pail of fresh
water sat ON IA small bench in the cor
nor and [ dipped gourd into it and
took il refreshing draft. Then l made
use of it to lave my face and hands,
drying them upon my handkerchief.
My toilet articles were at the inn of
Tom Bulfnch III the hamlet of Aldine.
Then, with deliberation that sur
priscd myself, l examined my revolver.
The three charges were in place and /
grimly wondered how soon l should
have to appeal to them.
No doubt fingered in my mind that
the negro intended treachery If not,
why had he failed to call me- as he
promised? l was mildly astOnished that
he had not robbed me in my sleep, but
accounted for that on the theory that
he intended to deliver me intact to the
white men who We're hunting for me.
This fancy became more reasonable
when | reflected that Pete must be an
object of suspicion to his neighbOrs be-
cause of his numerous forays upon their
property. In what more etfectual way
could he square himself with them than
by delivering me into their hands? He
had gone forth to open communication
with them, and as soon as he could do
so would bring them to the cabin, where
| should have been caught like rat in
a trap.
| stepped to the small window on the
right and peeped out. The small clear
ing stretched away to the wood and
showed no sign of living person. The
same view met my eye from the oppo-
site window. Then | lifted the latch
and looked along the trail over which
we had come to the building. That,
too, was equally devoid of persons, but
N4lV NAi4NhNIH NNlb SSlatCh-
ing the ground i'll quest of their break
fast as much at home as if with their
rightful owners.
Feeling that every passing minute
was Of value, | drew the door fully
open, stepped forth and latched it after
me. y hurried glance on every hand
failed to show any cause for additional
alarm, and | walked rapidly over the
path toward the creek where the dugout
had been left.
There was danger of meeting Peto at
any moment | resolved if | did SO
to charge him directly with playing me
false and if he proved ugly or attempt
ed to dctain me to use one of the re-
manning charges in my revolver upon
him, but l reached the stream without
sight of him.
| had paused, debating the best course
to take, when | heard the murmur of
voices in the undergrOwth ON my left,
the sounds indicating that two persons
at least were approaching the spot
where l stood l instantly stepped out
Of the trail and crOuched among the
dense underground, where 1 was invisi-
ble unless the parties continued across
the path. Drawing my revolver, pre-
pared fJr the contingency.
The fear of being detected held me SO
low in the shrubhery that | could not
see either of the men, though | recOg
niZed their voices rs those of Pete and
of Cy Walters. By some means the two
had established communication, and
doubtless other members of the man
hunt were within call.
The two continued talking but to my
evaporation it was i'll such low tones
that it was impossible to distinguish