"You white folks kin sleep in them two beds," she said, with a wave of her hand toward first one and then the other, "and the nigger, he kin lop down outside on them horse blankets, if he likes." And setting the candle down on top of a chest of drawers, she stalked away without another word. "Massa doctah, and all you gentlemens, please sahs, lemme stay in heyah," pleaded Zeb in an undertone of affright. "Dat woman she look at me down stairs 'sif she like to stick dat carvin' knife right froo me." No one answered at the moment; they were all sending suspicious glances about the two rooms, and Zeb quietly closed and secured the door. "Ki! massas, jus' look a heyah!" he cried in an excited whisper, and pointing with his finger. "What is it?" they asked, turning to look. Zeb sprang for the candle, and bringing it close showed a small hole in the door. "A bullet hole, sure as you live," exclaimed Grey, who was nearest. "And exactly opposite the bed," added Jones, stepping to it and beginning to throw back the covers. In an instant they were all at his side, and there was a universal, half suppressed exclamation of horror and dismay, as a hard straw mattress, much stained with blood, was exposed to their view by the flickering light of the candle, which Zeb in his intense excitement had nearly dropped. They looked at those tell-tale stains and then into each other's faces. A trifle pale at first most of them were, but calm and courageous. Clendenin was the first to speak. "We have evidently fallen into a den of thieves and murderers, but by the help of the Lord we shall escape their snares." "Yes, we'll trust in God, boys, and keep our powder dry," said Grey. "And Heaven send us a more peaceful end than some poor wretch has found," added Collins, pointing with a sympathetic sigh to the gory evidences. "We must keep a sharp lookout, for we may depend that thar hunter'll return to his wife's embraces afore mornin'," remarked Johnson, grimly. They at once set about making a thorough examination of the rooms, but found nothing more to arouse uneasiness, except the fact that the window of one opened out upon the roof of a shed, by means of which it was easily accessible from the ground. Then their plans were quickly laid. They would all occupy that one room, and take turns in watching, two at a time; thus giving to each about two-thirds of the night for rest and sleep. The arms were examined and every man's weapon laid close at his hand, ready for instant use. These preparations completed, Grey turned to Kenneth, saying softly: "Doc, we seem pretty well able to defend ourselves in case of attack, but it wouldn't hurt to ask help from a higher Power." "No," said Kenneth, kneeling down, the others doing the same; then, in a few appropriate, low-breathed words, he asked his Father to have them in his kind care and keeping, and if it was His will grant them safety without the shedding of blood. CHAPTER XXVIII.