Part 42 (2/2)
”Are you sure this road leads to North Mills?”
”Perfectly sure; I've been this way three or four times But another road branches from it, and passes a mile north of the Mills; he has probably taken that”
But no; after a good deal of trouble--the road appearing once more dry and y had not taken the branch, but kept the direct route to the Mills!
”It doesn't seem possible! there must be soress see before they reached the Mills, became a mere bed of brown dust, in which it required a pretty vivid iuish one track froly Lion still led theer be trusted
”He's bound for hoht there”
”If Rad _did_ come this way,” said Rufe, ”he was shrewd, after all He knew that by passing through a busy place like the Mills, he would hide his tracks as he couldn't in any other way”
”To find 'eloo out of this place”
It e The houses were all dark and still; not a ray at a , not even the bark of a dog, gave sign of life as they passed
”This looks discouraging,” said Jack
”A needle in a haystack is no comparison,” replied Rufe ”The lantern is alet another at our house,” said Jack ”We oing straight hoate before Mr Lanon turned up after him
”What's that ahead of us?” said Jack, as the on standing,” said Rufe, shading his eyes fro into the darkness
Jack juy, and the horse was Snowfoot, standing before the gate, waiting patiently to be let in
Quite ith delight and astonishment, Jack took the lantern and exaht,” he exclaio, and taken to his heels And the horse et off with the money,” said Rufe, not quite so abundantly pleased as his friend ”What's this thing under the seat?”
”The compass!” said Jack, if possible, still more surprised and overjoyed, ”which I accused Zeph of stealing!”
Rufe continued ru the lantern with one hand, lifted up a liarment with the other
”What in thunder? A pair of breeches! Rad's breeches! Where can the scaone without his breeches? See what's in the pocket there, Jack”
Jack thrust in his hand, and brought out soht out a pocket-book, containing more bank-notes It was Mr Betterson's pocket-book, and the notes were the stolenthem, he was too much aave a final flicker and went out, leaving the boys and the mystery of the compass and the money and Rad's pantaloons enveloped in sudden darkness
CHAPTER xxxVIII