Zeke was astounded when he looked around the living-room and recognized Marshal Stone, together with the members of the posse. He suddenly became aware that the change in Uncle Dick was even greater than he had supposed. There had been a radical readjustment of the old man's' attitude toward life, which disposed him not only to acceptance of Zeke with affection and confidence, but also to toleration of, and alliance with, the "revenuers," whom he had so consistently hated through a long lifetime. Zeke refrained however, from any open expression of his amazement, and at once joined the other men in devising a plan of operations to be begun at dawn.
It was decided that Uncle Dick should accompany the marshal and Brant, with the stag-hound, to the tracks of Hodges and Plutina on the north face of Stone Mountain, near Sandy Creek, where the dog could take up the scent, in the hope of solving the mystery that had baffled the human searchers.
Then Uncle Dick interposed a suggestion that suited Zeke well.
"If so be," he exclaimed abruptly, "as how Dan Hodges is atop thet-thar mounting, an' he gits the dawg nigh the precipice, he might throw the critter over. He's powerful strong, Dan is, an' desprit."
"Yes, the fellow's capable of it," Stone agreed.
"I'm a-thinkin' as hit mout be well fer Zeke to git atop the mounting fust off," Uncle Dick continued, "an' watch out fer Hodges. Hit's pretty open up thar, and easy to waylay a body."
"I'll go," Zeke declared, with eagerness.
The marshal directed the men of the posse to scatter to various points on the railway lines.
"Hodges'll probably try to get out of the country, the minute he hears the hound after him," Stone explained. "All of my men have seen him, and they'll be able to stop him, if he manages somehow to cover his scent from the dog, and get off."
Sutton, much against his will, was forced to remain inactive at the cabin as he was not physically fitted for the hard tramping over the mountains.
Zeke was the prey of emotions too deep to permit much interest in a stranger, but he had a friendly, if wan, smile for the veteran, whom he remembered from their single meeting. He attempted a display of attention on hearing of the marriage so recently achieved, but the effort failed pitifully. Seth Jones, however, took no offence, since he understood how great must be the young man's misery. On the contrary, his sympathies were deeply stirred, and he essayed a few words meant to comfort.