"I don't know that we will care to skate back to the Hall," said Pepper. "Mr. Darwood, could you take us back in your sleigh, if we paid you for it?"
"I'll take you back, and it shan't cost you a cent," answered the farmer, quickly.
"Hadn't we better find out what became of Reff Ritter?" questioned Jack.
"I'll run over to the Saldy farm and see," answered Andy, and set off without delay.
While Andy was gone, Samuel Darwood went to the barn to hitch up his team. Jack, Pepper and Coulter remained in the kitchen. Coulter sat staring at the fire, but occasionally his eyes wandered to Jack. Suddenly, while the others were silent, he spoke.
"Say, but you're a fine fellow, Jack Ruddy!" he said. "A fine fellow! And I'm a—a skunk! That's what I am, a low-down, mean skunk!"
"Never mind now, Gus," answered Jack, kindly. He hardly knew what to say at this outburst.
"You—you jumped in and saved me from drowning, didn't you?"
"Yes. But anybody would do that, Gus, for a schoolmate."
"No, they wouldn't; Reff Ritter wouldn't. He would have left me to drown!" And Coulter shuddered. "You're a real hero, Jack Ruddy! And I'm a—a skunk; yes, a mean, low-down skunk—and I always have been!" And now Gus Coulter buried his face in his hands.