“Hush, child!” said her father. “Bailing him might keep him out of jail a little while; but what will that amount to? He will have his trial all the same, when the court sits. The evidence is clear against him. He did break into Peternot’s house; and if he didn’t steal the money, he stole the bag it was in; that’s the way the squire argues. I’d bail him if that would get him clear of the scrape, but it won’t.”
Just then Mose came in haste into the house, with the astonishing announcement that two of the “Huswick tribe” wanted to see his father.
“Cub and Hank?” cried Mr. Chatford from the bedroom.
Bringing in the Treasure.—Page 241.
“No; Hod and Hick.” Hick (short for Hezekiah), aged twelve, was the sixth of this interesting family of boys. “They’ve got something; I shouldn’t wonder—”
“Bring ’em in!” said the deacon, “and be quick! What can the scamps be after!”
He came out, buttoning his suspenders, just as Hod and Hick marched in through the kitchen, one behind the other, bearing a short pole on their shoulders, with a curious burden hanging from it, about midway between them. It was a common meal-bag, having a compact but evidently heavy freight at the bottom, while the loose top was twisted over the pole and made fast by a cord.
“What’s that?” demanded the deacon. “The money that’s made all this trouble!”
“Ya-a-s!” said Hod, grinning and snuffing, and rolling his head from side to side, producing no small amount of friction between his left ear and the pole. “Boys say they don’t want it. Belongs to Jack.”