The rustling in the woods became louder. It seemed as if some one was running toward the road, snapping the branches under foot.
Then, from the darkness of the woods, two bright eyes peered out at Jack, reflecting in the light of the new moon. They showed red and green.
“An animal,” said the lad to himself, with a sigh of relief. “A fox, most likely.”
Then a distant owl hooted, and the fox, if such the beast was, disappeared like a flash.
“I might have known it,” thought Jack, but, nevertheless, it was some time before his heart beat regularly. At length he saw a distant light, and knew that he was approaching Pendleton.
“I’ll soon be there,” he thought. “Then for a ride on the train, and, as soon as it’s daylight, I’ll look for work in Rudford. I ought to get a place easily. I’m strong for my age.”
Half an hour later Jack was tramping through the silent streets of the village, on his way to the railroad station. He had been there once before, when the Academy nine played the Pendleton team, and he knew his way about.
Just as the youth was turning a dark corner, on a street which he remembered led to the depot, he heard some one coming toward him. He peered ahead, and, from the fact that the man he saw carried a long club, he concluded that the person was a constable.
“I mustn’t let him see me,” thought the boy. “It’s just possible there’s an alarm for me here. The dress-suit case will give me away, sure. I’d better hide it until he gets past.”
Fortunately, Jack was in the dense shadow cast by a building. The constable was coming directly toward him, and if he turned back, the officer would hear him. A sudden idea came to the lad.