’sponsible fur knowin’ ’bout Birt’s crime of stealin’ the grant an’ yit not tellin’ on him. An’ I’d take ter hopin’ an’ prayin’ the boy would confess, so ez I wouldn’t hev ter tell on him. I hev been mightily pestered in my mind lately with sech dilly-dallyin’.”
Again the sudden tapping of the woodpecker filled the pause.
“Did ye
see
him steal the grant, Andy?” asked the tanner, with bated breath.
“Ez good ez seen him. I seen him slyin’ round, an’ I
hev fund the place whar he hev hid it.
”
And the woodpecker still was solemnly tapping, high up in the chestnut-oak tree.
CHAPTER X.