Boy ran forward and helped support the man as he dismounted.
“What’s wrong, Dick, lad?” asked Hallibut, catching sight of the new arrival’s face.
Dick fumbled in one of his pockets.
“ ’Ere’s a letter, sir. I found it tacked to a tree houtside the lawn, sir.”
Hallibut took the letter. It was a dirty, crumpled thing, and scrawled across it were the words “Kenul Halbut.”
“Listen,” said the Colonel, “it’s from Amos Broadcrook. This is what he says:
“ ‘i intnted to git even with Smyth an Watson but they had skiped fer the stats but i have burnt the stor an hope you will be plesed i am goin away an haint ever comin back dont you put your dorgs onter me i be goin to live strate
‘amos broadcrook.’ ”
The men exchanged glances.
“Did he do it, Dick?” asked the Colonel.