He also reflected that when these men found the hut deserted, and that there was no one besides themselves on the island, they would be willing to listen to his story.

At any rate, so long as he was in their power it was best to do as they directed.

So, with the leader's hand still grasping his arm, the boy led the way into the narrow trail that he had already traversed so often.
Proceeding slowly, and with such extreme caution that not a sound betrayed their presence, the men followed in single file.

At the edge of the little clearing Winn halted, and was about to speak, when a hand was again clapped over his mouth with the force of a blow.
"Whisper!" came the order.
"Well there's your hut," whispered the boy, as soon as he was given the chance, "and if you find any one in it, then I'm a liar, that's all." The hut was plainly visible by the firelight that streamed from its open window.

Winn wondered at the brightness of this light, for it seemed as though the fire he had left there the evening before ought to have burned out long ago.