Gently he managed to turn his head in the direction of the spot where the man had lain down.  He still seemed to be sprawled there under the blanket.  A movement caught the eye of Max, and he saw Obed holding up a finger at him in mute warning.  Thrilled by a sense of impending tragedy, perhaps, Max watched the woods boy slowly but constantly making toward him.  Obed moved with the noiseless nature of a black snake creeping over the ground; his footfalls were so light that even a trained ear could not have detected them.  He kept on toward Max until soon he had managed to reach the other’s side.

Still those plain taps continued to sound in regular rotation, first coming from the outside, and then closer.  Max believed the man on the floor was making use of his shoe to send a message calling for help; and that some unknown party outside was giving him words of hope.

But Obed had now gained his side, and meant to whisper something in his ear, so Max prepared to pay full attention.  At the same time he glanced toward the door apprehensively, and was pleased to discover that, just as he believed had been the case, the bar was in position, so that entry could not be made by any enemy from without.

CHAPTER XIII

OBED LEARNS SOMETHING

“There’s something brooding,” Obed whispered the first thing; and then continued by saying:  “What are those queer little taps, Max?  I’m sure he has something to do with them.”

“He’s tapping the toe of his boot against the wall to send a message,” explained the other.  “They are using the telegraphic code.  I read the one word ‘free.’  So, you see, there’s some one outside the cabin, and they’re hatching up a scheme to get him loose.”

Obed grew very much excited.  He looked toward the door as though inclined to immediately issue forth and investigate.  Max thought the hope of capturing another prisoner was the lure that tempted him on.

“But what could have happened to Steve and Bandy-legs?” whispered the woods boy, as though suddenly remembering the pair supposed to be standing guard out there.

“Nothing has happened to them, depend on it,” replied Max; “but this fellow must have been slippery enough to get by them, and reach the cabin, that’s all.”

“Oh! don’t you think we might manage it, some way or other?” begged Obed.

Vague though his question may have been, Max had no difficulty whatever in understanding what he meant.  His own thoughts were already ranging in the same quarter, and he could supply all the missing words.  Obed was hoping that by suddenly issuing forth they might take the creeper by surprise, and effect his capture; such a possibility apparently gave the woods boy considerable pleasure even in the anticipation.

Max glanced again towards the door.  They could creep noiselessly over in that direction while the man on the floor and his friend without continued their singular exchange of signals, remove the bar from its place, and opening the door dash out to take the stooping fellow by surprise.