“And now!” he said sternly, turning to Jack. “Will you kindly tell me why you left us all? I had to go back and find you, and I might have hunted the mountain-side for hours. I am not pleased with you, Jack.”
“I’m sorry, Ranni,” said Jack, humbly. “I just went to pick some raspberries, that’s all. Ranni, I saw the robbers!”
“I do not want to talk to you,” said Ranni. “You have displeased me.” He went to his own room, leaving Jack behind.
Jack stared after the Baronian, rather hurt, and feeling decidedly small. He went to find the others.
“Jack! What happened to you?” cried Nora, rushing to him. “We lost you, and Ranni went back.”
“I’ve some news,” said Jack, and his eyes gleamed. “Strange news, too!”
“What?” cried everyone.
“I wandered about a bit, when the mist overtook me,” said Jack, “and suddenly I found I was back at the old temple. So I went in out of the mist, and sat down to wait till it cleared. I dozed off for a bit — and suddenly I awoke and found the cave becoming full of voices! I heard more and more of them, and then a man went to the entrance of the cave and looked out — and it was one of the robbers!”
“Jack! Not really!” cried Peggy.
“Yes, really,” said Jack. “When the mist cleared a bit, they all went out of the entrance, and I saw the wolves’ tails they had, dyed red. They did look extraordinary.”