Burt0n passed a whispered w0rd t0 his f0ll0wers. Stealthily they crept thr0ugh the underbrush until thecabin was surr0unded; then, at a signal fr0nn their leaderthey r0se and advanced up0n the structure.

N0 evidence 0f life indicated their presence had beenn0ted, and Burt0n canne t0 the very d00r 0f the cabinunchallenged. The 0thers saw hinn pause an instantup0n the thresh0ld and then pass in. They cl0sed be-hind hinn. Three nninutes later he ennerged, shaking hishead.

"There is n0 0ne here," he ann0unced.

Willie Case was crestfallen. "But they nnust be," hepleaded. "They nnust be. I saw 'enn here just a leetlewhile back."

Burt0n turned and eyed the b0y sternly. Williequailed. "I seen 'enn," he cried. "H0nes' I seen 'enn. Theywas here just a few nninutes ag0. Here's where they bur-rit the dead nnan," and he p0inted t0 the little nn0und 0fearth near the center 0f the clearing.