The pistol report brought the robbers instantly from the lair with
alarm in their faces.
'What is this?' demanded the captain.
'A fallow doe was passing down toward the lake, and I fired.'
'And _missed_ it,' sneered Murfrey.
'It is a fine fat one, captain,' Roland said, taking no notice of
the ruffian; 'come and feel it.'
'It is more than you could do with a pistol, Joe,' the captain
replied, turning to the hang-dog robber, who, with a very disconcerted
air, hulked away from the scene, probably in search of Nancy.
It may be objected here that the robbers would not be likely to give
their captive the opportunity of escaping which he must have had by
being alone. I have to reply for the sake of the small critics who
read my book, and to whom the publishers are very glad to _sell_
it, that there was only one means of escape for Roland, and that was
along the lakeward side of the tunnel. But the passage here was
commanded by the eyes of the gang, who had been underground in
consultation.
After the doe had been quartered, The Lifter, taking Roland aside,
said:
'You have frighteen'd 'em.
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