For an instant I was dismayed. Then I thought of the window close at hand, and throwing it open, sprang out.
“Stop! stop!” he cried as he darted towards the opening.
Instead of heeding his command, I made the best possible use of my time in putting a good distance between us. I had got at least three rods away from the house when he appeared at the door and started after me.
“I tell you to stop, Reuben!” he called for at least the tenth time.
“I’m going to the village,” I yelled back.
“If you don’t come back it will be the worse for you!”
“I’ll chance it.”
A look down towards the boat-landing proved that my boat was not there, and I hurried along the main road. I did not stop running until I was fully a quarter of a mile from the mill, and then it was only to drop into a quick walk.
As I hurried along I thought over my situation, and made up my mind that the best thing I could do was to call on Squire Slocum and state my case. The squire had been a warm friend of my father, and I felt certain that he would give me some sound advice, and tell me how to proceed.