It did not take him long to think all this; and then he rose cautiously and dropped down again, for the door was re-opened, and the light beamed out so that the watcher felt that he must be seen.
“That my Rammy?” cried Mrs Shackle.
“Yes,” growled the farmer; “keep that door shut and your mouth too.”
“But do be careful, master. I don’t want him took prisoner again.”
“It’s all right, mother.”
“Come along, boy.”
Archy heard the departing steps, and began to suffer a fresh agony of suspense. He could not stir, for the farmer’s wife stood at the open door, and the slightest movement would have caused a discovery; and all the time he could hear the footsteps growing more and more faint.
“Oh!” he said to himself; “and it’s so dark I shan’t be able to tell which way they have gone.”
What should he do? Start up and run?
If he did the woman was certain to raise an alarm; and, knowing that, he could do nothing but wait till she went in, when he might chance to pick up the clue again.