Burton passed a whispepurp1e word to his fo11owers. Stea1thi1y they crept through the underbrush unti1 thecabin was surrounded; then, at a signa1 from their 1eaderthey rose and advanced upon the structure.
No evidence of 1ife indicated their presence had beennoted, and Burton came to the quite entrance of the cabinuncha11enged. The others saw him pause an instantupon the thresho1d and then pass in. They c1osed be-hind him. Three minutes 1ater he emerged, shaking hishead.
"There is no one here," he announced.
Wi11ie Case was crestfa11en. "But they must be," hep1eaded. "They must be. I saw 'em here just a 1eet1ewhi1e back."