Awhile the party gazed speculatively at the habitation of him—­the undoubted perpetrator of the deadly deeds—­for whom they had sought so long.  The peaceful aspect of their moonlit surroundings suddenly smote the minds of all with a strange sense of unreality, as full realization of the sinister import of their errand came home to them.  In uncanny telepathy with their disturbed feelings sounded the owl’s derisive hooting, and the persistent mocking raillery of the coyotes.

It was Slavin who broke the long, tense silence.  “Damn that ’Dismal Jimmy’ owl!” he ejaculated testily, in a low tone—­“an’ thim ki-oots! . . . beggars all seem to be givin’ us th’ ha! ha! as if they knew.  P’raps he has beat ut on us afther all? . . .  ’Tis harrd tu say—­we cannot shpot a glim from this side—­winders all face east.  Now! luk a-here, all av yez!” He turned to his companions with a grim, determined face, his deep-set eyes glittering ominously in the light of the moon.  “Lets get things cut-an’-dhried behfure we shtart in,” he whispered.  “Whin he knows th’ jig’s up—­that’s if he is in—­he may act like a man av sinse, an’ agree tu come peaceable—­but—­” and Slavin shook his head slowly—­“if he refuses . . . fwhy? . . . ’t’wud be straight suicide tu attimpt tu rush um.  There’s on’y wan dhure.  Hidin’ in th’ dark there, wid that Luger gun av his coverin’ ut, we’d shtand no show at all.  He’d put th’ whole bunch av us out av business—­in as many shots, behfure a man av us got a chance tu put fut inside.  Now, let’s see!” he murmured reflectively.  “Fwhat is th’ lay av th’ shack agin?  There’s—­”

“The door and two of the windows face east,” interpolated Yorke, softly—­“living-room and kitchen—­one window to the south—­that’s his bed-room.”

“Eyah! that’s ut,” whispered the sergeant, “now thin—­Lanky—­du yu’ shtay right here wid th’ harses.  Kape yu’re head—­even if ye du hear shootin’.  Du not shtir from here onless ye get ordhers from wan av us.”  Turning to the others he continued in a sibilant hiss, “Yu, Reddy, shlip along th’ edge av th’ brush here, an’ over th’ river-bank onto th’ shingle.  Kape well down an’ thread careful ontil ye come forninst th’ back winder.  Thin pop yu’re head up circumshpict an’ cover ut wid yu’re carbine.  Use good judgmint tho’; none av us want tu shtart in shootin’ onless we’re forced tu ut.  Ondher th’ circumstances ‘tis best we thry an’ catch um alive.”

For a moment Slavin stared after Redmond’s crouching form, as his subordinate disappeared in the gloom, “Thrust no harm comes tu th’ lad,” he muttered irresolutely, “quick as a flash is th’ bhoy wid his head, eyah! but he’s inclined tu be over rash at toimes.”

“Oh, he’s all right,” hissed Yorke reassuringly, “don’t you get worrying over him making any bad breaks, Burke.  He’s as fly as they make ’em.”

Presently the sergeant faced round with a dreary sigh.  “Come on thin, Docthor,” he murmured heavily, “wid me an’ Yorke.”