Part 36 (2/2)
”Humph! you'll get over that feeling when you are as old as I am,” replied Martin, heartlessly. ”What's the boy to us?”
”Oh, I ain't squealing. Only he looked so innocent----”
”Bah! don't give me any more of that stuff. Here, have something to brace you up.”
Martin pulled a black flask from his pocket and thrust it forward. Toglet drank copiously, as if to drown out the memory of what had occurred. Martin followed with an equally liberal dose.
”It was done easier than I at first imagined it would be,” said the latter.
”Had he suspected the least thing we would have had a nasty struggle with him.”
The anchor was hoisted and the sails set, and in a few minutes the sloop had left the island and was on her way down the lake.
”We won't go near Glen Arbor,” said Martin. ”Let them find out about the affair in the natural way. If we report it we may get ourselves into trouble.”
”But the squire----” began Toglet.
”That's none of our affair. We'll land near Westville, and watch our chance to report.”
It was about four o'clock when the two rascals beached the sloop in an out-of-the-way spot just north of the village in which Ralph lived. No one had seen their coming, and as quickly as they could they left the craft and then sent her adrift.
Both of the men had worn wigs, and these they now cast aside, altering their appearance slightly. Their guns and game-bags were hidden behind a pile of decayed logs and then they sneaked through the woods toward the hill at the extremity of Westville.
They waited about Squire Paget's house for nearly an hour and at last saw that gentleman come out and start up the country road which led away from the village center.
Presently the squire came to an old, disused cottage, which years previous had been used as a road tavern. Here he halted, and the two men at once joined him.
”It's done, squire,” said Martin.
”Hus.h.!.+ not here,” cried Paget, in a scared voice. ”Come inside.”
He took from his pocket a key and with it unlocked the cottage door. The two men pa.s.sed inside, and the squire of Westville immediately followed.
”Take a look about before you say anything,” he said. ”We must not be overheard.”
Martin's lip curled, but he did as requested, and Toglet did the same. Not a soul but themselves was anywhere in sight.
”We're all right, squire,” said Martin. ”So we'll get to business without delay.”
”Exactly, exactly! And did you--is he--is he gone?” asked Squire Paget, breathing hard.
”Yes, he's gone,” returned Martin, boldly. ”He went over the top of the big cliff, and that is the end of him.”
”You are sure it was the right boy?”
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