After all it proved to be a false alarm, for no one came in sight.
Darry was not foolish enough to invite a further attack by remaining on the ground after the enemy had temporarily withdrawn, so he gathered himself together and continued along the road, feeling of his limbs to ascertain just how seriously he had been bruised, and trying to scrape some of the mud from his clothes.
He felt ashamed to let Mrs. Peake see him in this condition, for the clothes had been Joe's, and naturally she would feel badly to discover how they were now treated to a coating of mud.
But then the fact of his having such a joyful surprise for her would discount any bad effect of his appearance.
Thinking thus, Darry put his hand eagerly into the inside pocket where he had so carefully stowed the little leather pocket-book in which the hundred dollar bill given him by Paul, as well as the amount which his muskrat pelts had fetched at the hardware store, had been lodged.
The pocket-book was gone!
Poor Darry shivered as if someone had struck him a blow.
Could he have lost it while upon the shore with Paul Singleton and had the angry sound claimed it as passage money for having allowed a victim to escape?
No, he recollected very distinctly feeling it there as he started from the office of the lawyer, after learning that Mr. Quarles was away.
Then it must have fallen out during his struggles on the road, for several times he had been on his back, with those "wildcats" clawing at him.