The boy looked round, without, however, moving his fishing-pole.
“Is Espy down there anywhere?” said Phonny.
Here the boy turned his head again toward the water, without directly answering Phonny, though he called out at the same time in an audible voice,
“Espy!”
In answer apparently to his call, a boy came suddenly out of a little thicket which was near the water, just below where Ned was fishing, and asked Ned what he wanted.
“There’s a fellow out here in the road,” said Ned, “calling for you.”
Hearing this, the boy came out of the thicket entirely, and scrambled up the bank. He stood at the top of the bank, looking toward Wallace and Phonny, but did not advance. His hand was extended toward a branch of the tree which he had taken hold of to help him in climbing up the bank. He continued to keep hold of this tree, showing by his attitude that he did not mean to come any farther.
He was in fact a little awed at the sight of Wallace, who was a stranger to him. He did not know whether he was wanted for any good purpose, or was going to be called to account for some of his misdeeds.
“Come here a minute,” said Phonny.
Espy did not move.