CHAPTER XXXII FOOTSTEPS IN THE DARKNESS

The direct result of this exchange of shots was to make the two parties more cautious.  Mickey and Fred kept further away from the camp-fire, which they suffered to die out gradually.  There was really no need fot it, and, since its presence meant danger, it was only prudent to dispense with it altogether.

For fully a half hour not the slightest movement or disturbance at the opening betrayed the presence of any one there, although there could be no doubt that their enemies were within call.

“I can’t see what they can gain by loafing around them parts, as the lassies used to obsarve in the ould country when any of the laddies tried to cut me out wid ’em.  They need n’t watch for us to come out that way, for there ain’t much danger of our trying to steal out of that hole—–­”

“Holloa!  Look there!” exclaimed Fred, in considerable excitement; “some of them are coming down to catch us.”

Mickey had already noticed that something unusual was up, and, just as the lad spoke, the figure of what seemed to be a man blocked up the opening, and then began slowly descending, as if supported by a rope, with which his friends were lowering him into the lower room.  His form was swathed with a blanket, and there was a certain majesty in the slowly sinking figure, which would have been very impressive but for the fact that it was hardly started when the thin cord by which it was suspended began to twist and untwist, causing the form to revolve forward and backward in a way that was fatal to dignity.

On the impulse of the moment, the Irishman had raised his gun to fire the moment his eyes rested upon the figure.  But he restrained himself, not a little puzzled to guess the meaning of such a proceeding.  The man, as they believed him to be, was slowly lowered, until something like a dozen feet below the opening, where those who had him in charge seemed to think was the proper place to hold him on exhibition for a time.

“Are you going to shoot?” asked the boy, who did not understand the delay.

“What’s the use?” he asked, with an expression of disgust.

“Why, it will stop the man coming down on us.”

“Man, do ye say?  He ain’t any more a man than me gun is.”

“What, then, can he be?”

“He’s a blanket that they’ve twisted up so as to look as though it is gathered about the shoulders of an Apache.  It’s easy to see that there’s nothing in it from the way it swings around, as though it was a little toy; and, be the same token, that little cord which holds him aloft is no thicker than a darning-needle.  Why they are thrying such a simple thrick is more than I can tell.”

“I think I know,” said Fred.  “They’ve dropped him down to find out whether we’re on the watch or not.  If we didn’t pay any attention to it, they would think that neither of us was on the look-out, and they would send some others down to scalp us.”