CHAPTER XXIII 

THE VISIT 

There could be no question but that the man was coming for the sole and only purpose of paying them a visit, and Jet was quite confident he had grown suspicious he and his companion were being followed. 

The boy's first thought was to edge farther into the shanty, in order to prevent his face from being seen so plainly; but he did not dare make very much of a move lest the man should be aware of his purpose. 

"He knows what we're here for," Jim whispered, in a tone of fear. 

"Don't let him see you think it. Act as if we wasn't talking of anything but hunting and fishing. Remember he'll kill us, if he knows the truth." 

This was sufficient to drive away what little self-possession Jim had left, and he stood stupidly staring at the visitor until Jet said sharply: 

"Pick up that hatchet and begin to cut wood; we haven't enough to last over night." 

Jim would have obeyed almost any order at that moment. He was so dazed with fear as not to know what he was about, and mechanically he began to do as he was bidden. 

Bob advanced leisurely, looked carelessly around at the boat, the stack of provisions and the weapons, after which he asked, much as if it was really a matter of no concern to him: 

"Come up here on a hunting trip, eh?" 

"More for fishing than anything else," Jet replied, keeping his face in the shadow as much as possible. 
Was the visitor a woman?
There could be no question but that the man was coming for the sole and only purpose of paying them a visit,