As no light came from its direction, it
certainly appeared to be closed now. As these thoughts flashed through
the boy's mind, the man who held him, and who was evidently the leader
of the party, whispered,
"You say there isn't anybody in there, but it looks to me as if there
was. Anyhow, we'll find out in another minute, and if you've led us
into a trap or played us false, I'll see that you swing for it, or my
name's not Riley. Bill, you stay here and see that this chap doesn't
put up any game on us while we surround that den of thieves. Have your
guns ready for use, men."
Although all this was spoken in a whisper, inaudible beyond its
immediate group of hearers, there was no mistaking the man's stern
meaning, and Winn experienced an uneasy dread such as he had not
heretofore felt throughout this strange adventure.
Suppose there should be some one in the hut? Suppose the
"river-traders" had returned to the island and should resent this
intrusion even to the point of resisting it? In such a case what would
happen to him? If his captors were triumphant they would declare he
had led them into a trap, for doing which they had promised to hang
him. If, on the other hand, the "river-traders" had returned and
should make a successful fight, would not their wrath also be directed
towards him for leading their assailants to the hut? In either case,
it seemed to the bewildered boy that his position was decidedly
unpleasant, and he awaited the immediate developments of the situation
with no little anxiety.
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