"More likely it's that ragged boy," said Uncle Tad. "That's where he made a rush for as soon as we came up."
Splash seemed about to go into the bushes himself, and drive, or drag, out whatever was hiding there.
But Mr. Brown called:
"Here, Splash! Come here, sir!"
The dog came back and then Bunny's father, going over to the bushes, looked down among them.
"You'd better come out," he said, to someone. The children could not see who it was. "Come on out," said Mr. Brown, "we won't hurt you."
Out of the bushes came the ragged boy. In his hand he still had some of the bread and meat he had taken from the ice box.
Bunny and Sue looked at him.
The boy's clothes were very ragged, but they seemed to be clean. He had on no shoes or stockings, but one foot was wrapped up in a rag, as though he had cut himself. He limped a little, too, as he came forward.
"I—I couldn't run very fast with my sore foot, or I'd a' got away from you," he said slowly.