"They have had Barlow before the 'squire's court, but didn't make anything out of him," added Gus.
"Augustus, are you crazy?" said his father.
"I never was more sane than I am at this minute," replied Gus. "I feel as though I should fly. Here's just the way it happened."
Gus went on and told the story just as he heard it from the boy in the post-office. There wasn't much to tell, of course, but it was enough to make Mr. Layton see that his troubles were ended for the time being. He even smiled, and that was the first effort Gus had seen him make in that line since he came home.
"I am very sorry to hear that about Bob," said Mr. Layton, with a long-drawn sigh.
"So am I," said Gus. "They will treat him dreadful. But Barlow is true-blue," he added to himself. "If he had told what happened there in his house before Mr. Sprague came in he would have got father and me in a dreadful fix." Then he said aloud: "But, father, there are those ponies. There will be nobody to pay for their board, and I might as well have them as anybody else."
"Where do you suppose he left them?"
"At the livery-stable."
"Well, let us wait a little while. We mustn't be too quick to take advantage of Bob's absence. Now, Gus, suppose you leave me alone for a short time. I am sure I can't get over this. You're sure they are gone?"
"As certain as I can be," replied Gus, earnestly. "The whole village is in an uproar, and I couldn't make out what it was until this boy told me. I declare, that Bob Nellis has got more friends than I ever had. I'd like to see how many he'll get on shipboard."