I kept an absolute silence, and nothing but the croaking of frogs and the lonely hooting of an owl broke the stillness.
“It’s no use,” he went on. “The fellow, whoever he is, has got away, and it’s worse than hunting for a pin in a haystack to try to find him.”
The other two were silent, and by looking down I saw Avery scratch his forehead.
“It’s funny that he could have got away so quickly,” he said. “We were right on his heels.”
“Perhaps it was Reuben,” said Mr. Norton suddenly. “I take it that he is mighty nimble on his feet.”
“Yes; but I supposed he was in jail.”
“Might have got out on bail. I’ve found out that they think a sight of the young miller in Bend Center.”
“A good deal more than they do of his uncle, eh?” chuckled Yates.
And then he and Avery broke out into a coarse laugh, in which Mr. Norton was forced to join.
“Let us forget that,” said the latter finally. “It’s a good joke on me, I suppose; but we’ve got serious business ahead. Come, we will make for the shore again.”