“Then follow me!” exclaimed the woman, striding off into the woods.
She led the way, explaining in disjointed sentences, yet so that she could be understood, that the old man frequently imagined some one was after him. At such times he would go to one or another of his hiding places, of which he had a number in the different parts of the woods.
But this time he was not to be found easily. Place after place, including caves and deep ravines, were visited by the searchers, but there was no sign of the hermit.
“I am sure he has been killed,” said Kate in a sorrowful tone. “And he was the kindest man that ever lived.”
“I thought you said he was a murderer,” spoke the professor, wondering in what strange channels the woman’s mind ran.
“So he is!” exclaimed Kate, “but he is a good murderer, and not one of the bad kind.”
“Poor woman,” sighed Mr. Snodgrass. “Her mind is hopelessly gone.”
Kate started off in a different direction, and the boys and the professor followed her. She went at a rapid pace, and soon the travelers were aware that they were going up hill. The trail became more steep as they advanced, until they were panting from their exertions. Yet the crazy woman did not seem to become exhausted by the hard pace in the least.
“There is the hill!” she exclaimed at last, pointing upward, and the boys saw ahead of them a big half round mound, at the very summit of which was an immense tree.
“He sometimes stays in that tree,” spoke Kate, as they neared the big forest giant.