“No, because I had no money on me! A man don’t carry money in his pockets when he goes out shooting!”
“Just what I was thinking,” agreed Gervase. “It does not seem to have occurred to that desperate fellow. Do you think he may have rolled you into the sand-pit in a pet at finding you so little worth his trouble?”
“No. It wasn’t robbery, of course. I see that now, but at the time — Well, I know it sounds smoky, but it’s true!
I never thought about not having any money until I got out of that sand-pit. Then I remembered I hadn’t as much as a groat in my pocket!”
“Was that why you decided to come back?”
Martin flushed. “I always meant to come back! It’s why I didn’t reach Stanyon till past ten o’clock tonight! At least, it is, in part! I can tell you, I didn’t feel so stout when I first got free! I couldn’t stand, and my head was aching till I could scarcely see out of my eyes, and I had such a thirst — ! As soon as my legs would bear me, all I cared for was to get out of that pit, and find some water! Well, I did get out, and I had no more idea of where I was than — than anything, but there was a wood quite close, and I thought very likely there might be a stream near it, and so there was! And then I — I — ”
“You?”
“I went to sleep!” Martin said. “I think I must have slept for hours, because it was very little past dawn when I got that sack off my head, and it was past noon when I woke up, judging from the sun. I felt better then, and I set out to get to the nearest village. Such a figure as I must have looked! I could see they took me for a common vagrant, at the ale-house. They had no post there, of course, and the landlord said he had no horse I might hire, but I might be accommodated at Guyhirne, which was not far.”
“And were you?”
“No. That is — ” Martin stole a glance from his brother’s face to Miss Morville’s. “I didn’t go there. I know this was folly, but — I fell in with some country-fellow driving a waggon, and he took me up, and that was when I learned what had happened to you, St. Erth!”