Part 19 (1/2)
”But I don't recollect seeing this grass in the ht; and then he stopped short, for it suddenly occurred to him that he had not come upon the cluster of houses where the people smiled and nodded at one another as they passed
”I can't have trailed off into another road, can I?” he said to himself, as he felt quite startled and turned hot
He looked round, but it was too dark to ain, coht, when he heard at a distance the _pat-pat_ of feet on hard ground, and drew back close up to the side to stoop down a some brambles, which told him at once after their fashi+on what they were
”If I only dared ask whoever this is,” thought Archy, ”I should do”
His thoughts took another direction directly, for, apparently about twenty yards away, he heard some one sneeze, and then mutter impatiently, followed by another sneeze
And all the while the regular _pat-pat_ of footsteps caht, but not as he had co by a road which cales to the one he was in
Archy crouched there, breathless and listening, wondering who the man could be as perfectly silent now, but he had not moved away unless the turf had silenced his footprints
”How lucky it was I stopped!” thought the ht on to hiht”
The steps ca to pass on, when a gruff voice from close by said,--
”Well, lad?”
There was a sudden stoppage, and an exclamation, and--
”Made me jump, master”
”Don't talk foolery,” said the first voice in impatient tones, and to Archy it was unmistakable He had heard both voices before ”What have you ”
”No boat landed?”
”Nor no sign o' one,the lane”
”Wouldn't take the upper lane, would they?”
”Not likely”
”Upper lane!” thought Archy Had he taken the upper lane in the darkness, and so missed theon the cutter, did you?”
”Not a word”
The ive a throb He did know that voice then