“Yes,� Patsy agreed reluctantly. “I reckon he’s miles away by this time.�
Crestfallen and disappointed, they went back to the road and started slowly down the hill.
Then a red-brown head rose out of a heap of pine brush, so cautiously that it did not disturb the woodpecker drumming on a nearby stump. A pair of merry brown eyes watched the girls till they were at a safe distance; then Dick, to the terror and hasty flight of the woodpecker, scrambled out of the brush heap.
“Cock-a-doodle-doo-oo-oo!� he called deridingly.
Anne and Patsy started and looked back.
“There he is!� groaned Patsy.
Yes, there he was, standing in the middle of the road, waving his hand tauntingly.
“Shall we chase him again?� asked Anne.
“Yes,� said Patsy; and then: “No, it’s no use. He’s too far away; before we could get halfway up the hill, he’d be out of sight again.�
“Oh, well!� laughed Anne. “We don’t care, Patsy-pet. Let’s go to Happy Acres and see what flowers are in bloom.�