“Never heard of it, sir. Do you know what part of the forest it is in?”
“No,” said Stephen.
“Then it’s like looking for a needle in a bundle of hay,” retorted the man.
“However difficult, it must be found,” said Stephen. “Drive on till you come to some road and follow that. It may lead us to some place where we can ascertain the direction of this man’s cottage.”
The man touched his horse with the whip, and still Una stood as if spell-bound, but, suddenly remembering that they were going in the opposite direction to the cottage, she was about to step forward, when she heard the bark of the dog, and almost as if he had sprung from the ground, Gideon Rolfe stood beside the carriage.
“Ah, here is someone,” said Stephen. “Can you tell us the road to the cottage of Gideon Rolfe, the woodman, my man?” he asked.
“And what may be your business with him?”
“Why do you ask, my good man?” he replied.
“Because I am he you seek,” said Gideon.
“You are Gideon Rolfe? How fortunate.”