The matter came to a head shortly after their arrival at Red Oaks when Colonel Dale, Harry, Hugh, and Dave were on the front porch. The boy was standing behind the box-hedge near the steps and Barbara had just appeared in the doorway.
“Well, what was the trouble?” Colonel Dale had just asked.
“He tried to stab Grey unarmed and without warning,” said Hugh shortly.
At the moment, the boy caught sight of Barbara. Her eyes, filled with scorn, met his in one long, sad, withering look, and she turned noiselessly back into the house. Noiselessly too he melted into the garden, slipped down to the river-bank, and dropped to the ground. He knew at last what he had done. Nothing was said to him when he came back to the house and that night he scarcely opened his lips. In silence he went to bed and next morning he was gone.
The mystery was explained when Barbara told how the boy too must have overheard Hugh.
“He’s hurt,” said Dave, “and he’s gone home.”
“On foot?” asked Colonel Dale incredulously.
“He can trot all day and make almost as good time as a horse.”
“Why, he’ll starve.”
Dave laughed: