Let them think place empty." "All right," Jim said shortly, and went and sat down by the fire, as if he had no further interest in their proceedings.
The windows, he had already noticed, had not only shutters outside; but they were firmly closed within, with massive planks, securely nailed and fastened.

Jim heard the last of the party go out, and then the door was shut, and the lock turned.

Jim heard the party ride off, and then threw himself on the ground and listened, to assure himself that they kept steadily on their way.
The moment he was sure they were gone, he began to search the place for a tool which would fairly suit his purpose.

Presently he found a large butcher's knife, with which they cut up the carcasses; and with this he set to work to dig a hole in the ground, close to the wall of the hut.

The bottom log was only sunk a few inches in the soil, and in two hours he had burrowed under it, and made his way out beyond; then he crept back again, scraped the earth into the hole again as tightly as he could, crawling out backwards.