“I think you are right, Joe,” said the doctor thoughtfully.
“I feel sure I am,” I said. “I don’t expect to find him directly; but I mean to go on trying till I do.”
“That’s the way to find anybody,” said Jack Penny. “You’re sure to find ’em if you keep on like that. Come along.”
Jack went off; taking great strides as if he expected to be successful at once; but he did not keep up the pace long, but hung back for me to overtake him, saying:
“I say, Joe Carstairs; does your back ever ache much?”
“No,” I said; “very little. Only when I’m very tired.”
“Ah! you ain’t got so much back as I have,” he said, shaking his head. “When you’ve got as much as I have you’ll have the back-ache awfully, like I do. I say, I wonder where old Jimmy has got to.”
“He’s close at hand somewhere,” I said. “Depend upon it he has not gone far. If the truth were known,” I continued, “he’s walking along abreast of us, just hidden in the bushes.”
“Think so?” said Jack dubiously.
“I’m about sure of it,” I replied.