Then we dropped into mutual explanations, and the mystery was cleared away.

It came out that Higbie had depended on me, as I had on him, and as both of us had on the foreman.

The folly of it! It was the first time that ever staid and steadfast Higbie had left an important matter to chance or failed to be true to his full share of a responsibility.
But he had never seen my note till this moment, and this moment was the first time he had been in the cabin since the day he had seen me last.
He, also, had left a note for me, on that same fatal afternoon--had ridden up on horseback, and looked through the window, and being in a hurry and not seeing me, had tossed the note into the cabin through a broken pane.

Here it was, on the floor, where it had remained undisturbed for nine days: "Don't fail to do the work before the ten days expire.

W.
has passed through and given me notice.