Then Gus was taken by surprise; even his ready intuition failed him. He
had made up his mind that he was in for a long hike to the not too
distant mountains and that over this ground the work of keeping the
other fellow in sight and of keeping out of sight himself was going to
mean constant vigilance and keen stalking. But the midnight prowler
swung around the cabin and with long, certain strides headed straight
for the Hooper mansion.
This was easier going for Gus than the open road toward the mountains
would have been; there was plenty of growth--long grass, trees and
bushes--to keep between him and the other who never tried to seek
shelter, nor hardly once looked behind him until the end of the broad
driveway was reached.
Gus knew the watchman must be about, though possibly half asleep. He
also believed that the suspected youth, by the way he advanced, must
know the ways of the watchman. Roger, the big Saint Bernard, let out a
booming roar and came bounding down the driveway; the fellow spoke to
him and that was all there was to that. Gus stayed well behind, fearing
the friendly beast might come to him also and thus give his presence
away, but Roger was evidently coaxed to remain with the first comer.
The big house stood silent, bathed in the moonlight; there was no sign
of anyone about, other than the miscreant who stood now in the shadow,
surveying the place.
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