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Pushing steadily on as noiselessly as possible, they were presently able to part the bushes and discover a dead fire in plain sight. The boat lay on the shore, with one plank smashed in, doubtless the result of an accident that had wrecked the hopes of the two fugitives. Eagerly they surveyed the prospect, and then Lil Artha gave a grunt of disgust.
"They're pretty heavy, of course, but seven of us ought to be able to carry them, one at a time." "It needn't be for far either," Lil Artha assured them, "because here's a jimdandy place close by. Everybody on the job, and see what you can lift." After all it was nothing to speak of, for the two skiffs were easily handled, and nicely concealed from view.
"If it's all the same to you, Elmer, and you mean the whole kit to stop off too, I say let's go ashore," hastily replied Landy. "Head for that little cove, Lil Artha, and you too, Toby," said Elmer.
From the rapid manner in which Lil Artha and Elmer picked up the trail it was plainly evident that so far the unknown fugitive from justice had not bothered resorting to any of his tricks looking to blinding the tracks.
Perhaps in the end it would prove to be a case of the "last straw on the camel's back," and Lil Artha, casting discretion to the winds, would feel impelled to thrust the push-pole into the inexperienced hands of Landy Smith. He was evidently putting off the evil hour as long as he could, fearful of consequences. So noon came and found them well into the depths of Sassafras Swamp.
"It's Johnny's trap!" whooped Lil Artha, all excitement. "Everybody get out in a hurry!" called Elmer, suiting the action to the word himself by scrambling erect and making for the open door of the big barn. It was far from light in there; but as they could easily see the opening all they had to do was to make for it.
"Every fellow will have to shift for himself, then," said Elmer; "so let's start in and lay a foundation for a soft and fragrant bed." "Hay was good enough for me last night, suh!" declared the Southern boy; "but I've got a hunch I can sleep just as sound on balsam." "Hemlock for mine every time!" announced Lil Artha.
"More than one barn has been set on fire by smokers using matches in the hay. Tramps are responsible for a heap of this waste; and I don't blame any farmer for asking such a question. I'm glad we could tell him none of us had taken to the habit as yet." "Or if they had they'd reformed!" chuckled Lil Artha, meaning himself.
In fact, to tell the truth, all the boys felt that they were groping in the gloom, and even their best guesses had only a slender foundation. "We've enlisted in the war, though," said Lil Artha, grimly, "and we won't be kept back by any little thing. If that chap comes snooping around any more he stands a mighty good chance of getting hurt, that's all I'm going to say about it."
"And you all noticed, I reckon," remarked Chatz, "that they were making straight fo' the hide-out where Hen and that man spent the night. That shows Johnny must have figured out after we left him that it would be a good place for hiding. What do you all say about it?" "Oh! there's no question but what you're correct, old top!" Lil Artha told him in his queer way.
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