Filled with wonder and speculation over his unexpected and thrilling adventure, Don returned to the dressing-room where the desperate encounter had taken place. The knife he had closed and slipped into his pocket, and he wound a handkerchief around his cut and bleeding fingers.
“I’d give something to know what this fellow was up to,” he muttered, pausing outside the open door and shuddering as he thought of what had lately taken place within that room. “He fought like the very Old Scratch, but I don’t think he tried to strike me with the knife till I got him down and choked him. Wish I had a match.”
But another search through his pockets failed to bring forth the article he desired, and so, not without a slight shiver and drawing back, he again stepped into the darkness of the dressing-room.
Knowing exactly where his clothes were hanging on a peg against the wall, it was not difficult for him to find them. Having hurriedly gathered them and flung them over his arm, he lost little time in leaving the dressing-room, for he could not cast off the feeling that he might again be attacked in the darkness of that place.
Outside he paused long enough to close the door, which fastened with a spring lock, after which he walked swiftly from the inclosure, shutting the gate behind him.
As he reached the road, he heard the sound of voices, causing him to pause and listen, upon which he made the discovery that several persons were approaching from the direction of the village. The voices sounded natural, too, and he decided that, for some reason, a number of boys were coming toward him.
Not wishing to be seen by them, he hurried across the road and crouched behind a clump of bushes, which, together with the darkness, completely hid him from view.
As the party approached, he recognized the voices and learned that it was made up of Sterndale, Mayfair, Murphy and Chatterton. Listening to their conversation, he heard Mayfair say:
“You’re right about this thing, Sterndale, and it was a good thought of yours, for we can take care of the stuff at the club-rooms now, and everything will be safe.”
“It’s mesilf that nivver left anything up here at all, at all,” declared the voice of the Irish lad.