“Merry is there,” whispered Hodge.
They could hear him speaking.
“If he is in no danger, we’ll get out in a hurry,” said Jack, whose heart was beginning to misgive him. “I don’t want to be nosing into his business.”
Then they paused close to a clump of fancifully trimmed cedars. They could hear a voice saying:
“I thank you, Mr. Merriwell, for your generosity in promising not to make trouble for me. I know you could do so if you wished, but I give you my word of honor that I had no idea the fellow, Flynn, meant to do anyone serious harm when we attacked you. Wallace got me into it. I’ve got to go home, for they say my mother is nearly crazy over my absence.”
“It’s all right, Woodock,” said the voice of Frank Merriwell. “Go home, and be sure I hold no grudge. I think I can satisfy Hodge. Anyhow, we are going to leave Belfast to-morrow, if everything is favorable.”
“Well, I wish you good luck.”
“Oh, come away!” whispered Diamond, in Bart’s ear, his tone indicating disgust. “I’ve made a fool of myself. It’s only Woodock, and he is harmless.”
“’Sh!” warned Hodge. “Keep still. They are going. We have made asses of ourselves, but we don’t want Merry to know it.”
“Permit me to thank you, too, Mr. Merriwell,” said another voice. “You are very generous. Mart and I were schoolmates, and when he asked me to see you, I was glad to help him.”