us would be to swim out, and if they done
that we could pound 'em over the head with the oars the least little
thing sinks you when you're in the water." But this murderous fancy of
his failed to interest Betty.

Presently they heard Sherrod and Bunker come up from the shore with
George. Slosson joined them and there was a brief discussion, then an
interval of silence, and the sound of voices again as the three white
men moved back across the field in the direction of the bayou. There
succeeded a period of utter stillness, both in the cabin and in the
clearing, a somber hush that plunged Betty yet deeper in despair. Wild
thoughts assailed her, thoughts against which she struggled with all the
strength of her will.

In that hour of stress Hannibal was sustained by his faith in the judge.
He saw his patron's powerful and picturesque intelligence applied to
solving the mystery of their disappearance from Belle Plain; it was
inconceivable that this could prove otherwise than disastrous to Mr.
Slosson and he endeavored to share the confidence he was feeling with
Betty, but there was something so forced and unnatural in the girl's
voice and manner when she discussed his conjectures that he quickly fell
into an awed silence. At last, and it must have been some time after
midnight, troubled slumbers claimed him. No moment of forgetfulness came
to Betty. She was waiting for what--she did not know! The candle burnt
lower and lower and finally went out and she was left in darkness, but
again she was conscious of sounds from the room below. At first it
was only a word or a sentence, then the guarded speech became a steady
monotone that ran deep into the night; eventually this ceased and Betty
fancied she heard sobs.

At length points of light began to show through chinks in the logs.
Hannibal roused and sat up, rubbing his eyes with the backs of his
hands.

"Wasn't you able to sleep none?" he inquired. Betty shook her head. He
looked at her with an expression of troubled concern. "How soon do you
reckon the judge will know?" he asked.

"Very soon now, dear." Hannibal was greatly consoled by this opinion.

"Miss Betty, he will love to find us--"

"Hark! What was that?" for Betty had caught the distant splash of
oars. Hannibal found a chink in the logs through which by dint of much
squinting he secured a partial view of the bayou. "They're fetching up
a keel boat to the shore, Miss Betty--it's a whooper!" he announced.
Bett