第55章

Everyalternateweektheshiftswerechanged。ThesecondweekMcTeague’sshiftworkedinthedaytimeandsleptatnight。Wednesdaynightofthissecondweekthedentistwokesuddenly。Hesatupinhisbedinthebunkhouse，lookingabouthimfromsidetoside；analarmclockhangingonthewall，overalantern，markedhalf-pastthree。

“Whatwasit？“mutteredthedentist。“Iwonderwhatitwas。“Therestoftheshiftweresleepingsoundly，fillingtheroomwiththeraspingsoundofsnoring。Everythingwasinitsaccustomedplace；nothingstirred。ButforallthatMcTeaguegotupandlithisminer’scandlestickandwentcarefullyabouttheroom，throwingthelightintothedarkcorners，peeringunderallthebeds，includinghisown。

Thenhewenttothedoorandsteppedoutside。Thenightwaswarmandstill；themoon，verylow，andcantedonhersidelikeagalleonfoundering。Thecampwasveryquiet；nobodywasinsight。“Iwonderwhatitwas，“mutteredthedentist。

“Therewassomething——whydidIwakeup？Huh？“Hemadeacircuitaboutthebunkhouse，unusuallyalert，hissmalleyestwinklingrapidly，seeingeverything。Allwasquiet。Anolddogwhoinvariablysleptonthestepsofthebunkhousehadnotevenwakened。McTeaguewentbacktobed，butdidnotsleep。

“TherewasSOMETHING，“hemuttered，lookinginapuzzledwayathiscanaryinthecagethathungfromthewallathisbedside；“something。Whatwasit？ThereissomethingNOW。Thereitisagain——thesamething。“Hesatupinbedwitheyesandearsstrained。“Whatisit？Idon’knowwhatitis。Idon’hearanything，an’Idon’seeanything。I

feelsomething——rightnow；feelitnow。Iwonder——Idon’

know——Idon’know。“

Oncemorehegotup，andthistimedressedhimself。Hemadeacompletetourofthecamp，lookingandlistening，forwhathedidnotknow。HeevenwenttotheoutskirtsofthecampandfornearlyhalfanhourwatchedtheroadthatledintothecampfromthedirectionofIowaHill。Hesawnothing；

notevenarabbitstirred。Hewenttobed。

Butfromthistimeontherewasachange。Thedentistgrewrestless，uneasy。Suspicionofsomething，hecouldnotsaywhat，annoyedhimincessantly。Hewentwidearoundsharpcorners。Ateverymomenthelookedsharplyoverhisshoulder。Heevenwenttobedwithhisclothesandcapon，andateveryhourduringthenightwouldgetupandprowlaboutthebunkhouse，oneearturneddownthewind，hiseyesgimletingthedarkness。Fromtimetotimehewouldmurmur：

“There’ssomething。Whatisit？Iwonderwhatitis。“

WhatstrangesixthsensestirredinMcTeagueatthistime？

Whatanimalcunning，whatbruteinstinctclamoredforrecognitionandobedience？Whatlowerfacultywasitthatrousedhissuspicion，thatdrovehimoutintothenightascoreoftimesbetweendarkanddawn，hisheadintheair，hiseyesandearskeenlyalert？

Onenightashestoodonthestepsofthebunkhouse，peeringintotheshadowsofthecamp，heutteredanexclamationasofamansuddenlyenlightened。Heturnedbackintothehouse，drewfromunderhisbedtheblanketrollinwhichhekepthismoneyhid，andtookthecanarydownfromthewall。Hestrodetothedooranddisappearedintothenight。WhenthesheriffofPlacerCountyandthetwodeputiesfromSanFranciscoreachedtheBigDippermine，McTeaguehadbeengonetwodays。

CHAPTER21

“Well，“saidoneofthedeputies，ashebackedthehorseintotheshaftsofthebuggyinwhichthepursuershaddriven