Woofer laughed as he said it. "I don't care much what he does," he continued, "if he'll only turn over ther Injun gal ter me. That'll be ernuff fer you an' me, I reckon." "Then what's he goin' ter do?" "He's goin' ter take that Croffut gal, he's jest crazy about her, an' hike her off ter ther coast, an' put her aboard a private yacht he's got there, an' that'll be ther last o' her in this community." "What's goin' ter happen ter ther rest o' them?" "He's got er nice little deal fixed up fer Ted Strong. He wuz tellin' me thet if I wanted it, ther job was mine. I reckon I'll take it," and Woofer laughed heartily. "You're ter be ther executioner, eh?" "That's about ther size o' it." "An' yer hate yer job, eh?" This was greeted with uproarious laughter. "Like a kid hates candy." "What's it goin' ter be?" "A little rope play, I reckon." "That's yer long suit. Hello, what's this? Here we are at the cabin." Ted heard the men dismount and enter the cabin, and then their voices roaring with rage. "They've escaped, darn 'em!" they heard Woofer shout. "Hey, there, turn out an' hunt 'em! Ther boss will be wild when he finds this out." "Hunt fer 'em nothin', in this dark? Yer wouldn't find 'em in a blue moon. Why, it was all we could do ter find ther cabin." "Well, they can't git far away. We'll find 'em in ther mornin'." They retired to the cabin again, and slammed the door. "Did you hear that?" Stella's hand was on Ted's arm, and she whispered to him in an awed sort of voice. "You awake?" he said. "Yes, I heard it, but don't let it worry you. They won't get us very soon." They heard Hallie sobbing quietly. "What's the matter, dear?" asked Stella. "Don't be frightened." "Suppose he does," sobbed Hallie. "Suppose who does what?" asked Stella, throwing her arms around her friend. "Suppose Lieutenant Barrows does get me and takes me away on a boat. Oh, I shall kill myself!" "Never fear," said Ted. "He won't do that. Why, the whole army would be up in arms and after him before he got fifty miles." Hallie took comfort in this, and slept again, while Ted and Stella remained on guard. As the night wore on, they both became very sleepy, and they must have dropped into a doze, for when they awoke at the sound of a loud laugh, the sun was shining brightly, and they were surrounded by soldiers, and Woofer was looking down at them with a sneering laugh. "Jest like ther babes in ther woods," he shouted, and the soldiers laughed with him. Ted was on his feet in an instant, feeling for his revolver, but it was not in its accustomed place, and he suddenly remembered that it had been taken from him by the soldiers the night before. "Whar's ther lootenant?" asked Woofer. "He'd be glad ter see this tablow."