Part 21 (1/2)
”How long have you been lying there?”
”Several hours--I can't tell how long.”
”It's a mean trick, anyway.”
”So it is; I should have had to stay here all night if you hadn't come along.”
”Or if the snake hadn't swallowed you!” Harry shuddered at the mention of the snake.
”That was the worst of it,” he said.
CHAPTER XVII.
WHAT HARRY SAW IN THE WOOD
”What is your name?” asked Harry. ”I don't remember seeing you before.”
”I live on the other side of the wood. My name is Reuben Richardson.”
”Richardson?”
”Yes; we only moved here two months since, and I haven't had a chance to get acquainted much. What is your name?”
”Harry Gilbert.”
”I suppose you live in the village?”
”Yes. It's lucky for me you came along. There isn't much traveling through the wood. How did you happen to be here?”
”I was exploring a little. I was on my way home when I heard you shout.
I guess I must be going now. I have to get up early in the morning, and so I go to bed early.”
”Well, good-night, Reuben. Come and see me some day. Anybody will tell you where I live.”
”Thank you. If you ever come our way, stop at the farm and see me.”
”So I will.”
The two boys parted, with friendly good-nights.
”Reuben seems a nice sort of boy,” said Harry to himself, as he threaded his way through the woods in a homeward direction. ”I don't know what would have happened to me if he hadn't come along.”
The moon was already up, though it was still early, and cast a mild radiance through the branches of the trees. The effect was fine, but Harry had no time for enjoying it, as he was in a hurry to get home and relieve his mother's anxiety.
He had gone perhaps a quarter of a mile, when he heard voices, indistinct as yet, of men, who seemed to be approaching.
Ordinarily he would have kept right on, without fear or suspicion, but it might have been the experience through which he had just pa.s.sed that made him more cautious.
At any rate, he began to look around to see where he could best conceal himself till the newcomers pa.s.sed.