Nobody, however, seemed to hear them, and at last they sank down amidst a brake of tall fern near a little, neatly-squared stake which had been driven into the soil.

The brake was in black shadow, but a broad patch of moonlight fell on the green carpet of wineberries a yard or two away.

The rustling had ceased, and they could hear nothing for several anxious minutes; then it commenced again.

A man floundering through that kind of bush makes considerable noise, even when it is daylight and he can see where he is going.

Then one of the jumpers, who apparently had fallen into a clump of thorns, broke out into half-smothered expletives, and there was a soft laugh, evidently from a comrade.
"Looking for the stake," said Saunders with a rather grim chuckle.
"They mean to put the work through before they come round to call on us.