They tramped home to a late luncheon. It was so very cold that afternoon and evening that they were only too glad to remain in the house and "hug the fire."
The inclement weather drove Lem Daggett and the men indoors, too. The constable had to go back to Logwood without his prisoner, and he evidently feared the anger of Rufus Blent.
"I want to warn ye, Mis' Tingley," he said to the lady of the lodge, shaking his head, "that when Blent sets out ter do a thing, he does it. That boy's got to be found, and he's got to be kep' off this island."
"I will see what my husband says when he comes," replied Mrs. Tingley, firmly. "I will not allow our men to chase the poor fellow further."
"You'd better ketch him and signal us at Logwood. Run up that flag on the pole outside. I'll know what you mean."
"Mr. Tingley will decide when he comes," was all the satisfaction the lady gave the constable.
After he had gone, Mrs. Tingley told Ruth she hoped no harm would come to the poor boy, "sleeping out in the cold alone."
"Oh, Mrs. Tingley! I know he has a warm, dry place to sleep, and plenty of firewood—heaps and heaps of it."
"You seem to know a good deal about him," the lady commented.
"Yes, I do," admitted Ruth, honestly. "More about him and where he is hiding than he would care to have me tell you."