“Now, one more drink and then I’ll be off,” he continued, and, producing a bottle, he took a deep draught.  “Ha!  That’s the stuff to brace a man’s nerves!  But you mustn’t drink too much, John Stumpy, or you’ll be no good at all.  If you’d only let liquor alone you might be as rich as Aaron Woodward, remember that.”  He gave something like a sigh.  “Oh, well; let it pass.  I’ll get the tools and be on the way.  The money in my pocket, I’ll take the first train in the morning for the West.”  He paused a moment.  “But no; I won’t go until I’ve seen Woodward.  He owes me a little on the old score, and I’ll not go until he has settled up.”

There was an interval of silence, during which Stumpy must have been feeling around in his pockets for a match; for a moment later there were several slight scratches, and then a tiny flame lit up the interior of the tool house.

“Let’s see, where did I leave them tools?  Ah, yes; I remember now.  Behind those barrels.”

And Stumpy moved over to where I was in hiding.

CHAPTER V

 Following John stumpy

I expected to be discovered.  I could not see how it could possibly be avoided.  John Stumpy was but a few feet away.  In a second more he would be in full sight of me.

What the outcome of the discovery would be I could not imagine.  I was at the man’s mercy, and I was inclined to think that, our interview of the morning would not tend to soften his feelings toward me.

But at that instant a small, yet extremely lucky incident occurred.  A draught of wind came in at the partly open door and blew out the match, leaving the place in darkness.

“Confound the luck!” ejaculated John Stumpy, in high irritation.  “There goes the light, and it’s the last match I’ve got, too.”

This bit of information was gratifying to me, and, without making any noise, I rolled back into the corner as far as possible.

“Well, I’ll have to find them tools in the dark, that’s all.”  He groped around for several seconds, during which I held my breath.  “Ah, here they are, just as I left ’em last night.  Reckon no one visits this shanty, and maybe it will be a good place to bring the booty, especially if I happen to be closely pushed.”

I sincerely hoped that he would be closely pushed, and in fact so closely pushed that he would have no booty to bring.  But if he did succeed in his nefarious plans, I was glad that I would know where to look for him.

No sooner had the man found the bag of tools,—­ which was nothing more nor less than a burglar’s kit,—­ than he quitted the place, and I was left to my own reflections.

My thoughts alarmed me.  Beyond a doubt John Stumpy intended to rob the Widow Canby’s house.  The only one at home was Kate, and I groaned as I thought of the alarm and terror that she might be called upon to suffer.  As it was, I was sure she was worried about my continued absence.  In my anguish I strove with all my might to burst asunder the bonds that held me.  At the end of five minutes’ struggle I remained as securely tied as ever.