“Yes,” said Royal. “Let’s pick ’em up.”
So Royal began gathering up the berries as fast as he could, only he did it carefully. Some were on the grass, and were clean and uninjured; but others had rolled away into the dusty path, and were spoiled. Royal worked a few minutes, and then he said to Thomas,—
“Thomas, I had better go on and find them, while you stay here and finish picking up the berries.”
“No,” said Thomas, “I don’t want to be left here all alone.”
“Yes,” said Royal, “it will not be but a few minutes. We will all come right back here. Because, if I stay here, I am afraid that they will get away too far.”
Thomas reluctantly consented to remain, and Royal went on. Presently he came to a path which led along to the bars. He followed the path, sometimes walking fast, and sometimes running, until he came, at length, in view of the bars; and there he saw the three children perplexed and unhappy, and not knowing what to do. The youngest was sitting down upon the grass by the side of the road, crying.
“Why, girls,” said Royal, when he came up near enough to speak, “what made you run off so far?”
The older girl was silent; the younger continued to cry. The boy, after a little pause, said,—
“We heard a terrible noise down there in the woods.”
“O, that wasn’t any thing,” said Royal; “it was only another boy and I. But we didn’t mean to frighten you so much.”