The eight other boys were stronger than he, and any attempt upon his part to free her would be worse than useless. They would not listen, but instead, would pounce upon him.
The other boys talked, laughed, and whistled, to imply that they were not thinking of what they had done, but all the way back to the Cleverton, little Jack was wondering what he could do.
He dared not go straight to Floretta's mother, and tell her of her little girl's plight.
He knew if he did that, the boys would soon learn who had played "tell-tale," and then,—what would they do to him?
And yet, he was determined, in some way, to help Floretta.
How could he let a little girl stay out there in the woods all night?
Of course some one, walking through the woods might find her, but if no one happened to?
Jack knew that the risk was too great. It was just before he reached the Cleverton, that he thought of the best way that he could do it.
He would write a note to Mrs. Paxton. He would drop that note into the mail box that hung at the side door. The letters were always distributed at four, and Sidney Cumston, who had a fine watch, had just said that it was three. He left the boys at the entrance to the Merlington, and hurried on that he might have plenty of time for his note.
Mrs. Tiverton was out driving with a friend, and Jack had quite a hunt before he could find pencil or paper for his note.