“Well, we must not stand here. But what did you say?—I did not see what it was; they went off after a boy?”
The master spoke so civilly now that Archy forgot his anger, and entered into the trouble warmly.
“Yes,” he said; “and it was a plan. That boy is as cunning as can be. We must have been close up to the way into the cave when he started out and led us all away from it.”
“Eh?”
“I say he jumped up and dodged about, knowing the place by heart, and kept hiding and running off again, to get us right away from the entrance.”
“That’s it—that’s it, Mr Raystoke. Don’t try any more, sir. You’ve hit it right in the bull’s eye.”
“You think so?”
“No, sir; I’m sure of it. A young fox. Now as soon as we’ve taken him prisoner, I’ll put the matter before Mr Brough in such a way that the young scamp will be tied up, and get four dozen on the bare back.”
“Hadn’t we better catch him first, Mr Gurr?”
“Right, Mr Raystoke. Come on then; and the first thing is to get the men together. We shall catch him, never you fear that. These cunning ones generally get caught first. Now then, sir, let’s listen.”