Part 19 (1/2)
”I don't know,” said Fred, starting.
”Perhaps I thought we ought not to tell, in case we wanted to hide some day.”
”Hide! What from whom from!”
”I don't know,” said Fred again, as he looked in a puzzled way at his companion; and then they parted. Fred felt that he should have liked to have told his friend why he wished the discovery to be kept a secret, but the puzzled feeling grew more intense, and when at last he dismissed it, he was obliged to own that he did not know himself any more than when he spoke.
CHAPTER SEVEN.
FRED TAKES A JUMP.
The adventure in the Rill cave was talked about for a few days, and several plans were made for its further exploration; but, in spite of the talking, no further visit was made in that direction.
”You see, we ought to get a boat,” Fred said, ”and row right to the mouth, and go in that way next time, and we haven't got a boat.”
”And no likelihood of getting one,” said Scarlett, thoughtfully. ”Shall we go down again, and take your Samson with us this time?”
”I don't see that there's any good in it; and see what a mess we should be in again. I was full of little tiny bits of slate all in my hair, and down my back, and, after all, it wasn't worth the trouble.”
”Made me feel a bit queer. I say, Scar, only fancy being shut up there, and starving to death.”
Scarlett gave an involuntary s.h.i.+ver.
”Don't talk about it.”
”I say, starving to death makes you think about eating. When are your people coming over again to supper?”
”I don't know,” said Scarlett, with an uneasy sensation.
”What's the matter, Scar?”
”I don't know. I'm not sure. I think your father and mine have fallen out again.”
”What makes you think that?”
”Something I heard my mother saying to him.”
”Well, they'll soon be friends again, I dare say.”
”I hope so. But, Fred, how everybody seems to be talking now about the troubles in the east.”
”Well, let them,” laughed Fred. ”We don't want any of their troubles in the west. What do you say to an afternoon's nutting?”
”The nuts are not half ripe.”
”Well, let's get your Nat's ferret, and try for a rabbit.”
”He would not lend it to us.”
”Let's go down on the sh.o.r.e, and collect sh.e.l.ls for your Lil.”