“Same here,” growled Burd. “Any one would think we were planning to rob his house.”
“Looks more as though he were planning to rob ours,” said Amy. “If ever I saw a villain, that fellow was it.”
“I wonder why he was so anxious to get us away?” mused Jessie. “There must have been something about that house he was afraid to have us see.”
It was now fast getting dark, and the young folks were almost running along the narrow rocky trail. Somehow, after their meeting with that surly fellow outside the shabby, mysterious hut, they wished less than ever to be overtaken by the dark when they were still far from Forest Lodge.
More than once Jessie paused, ear tuned to listen, more than half fearing pursuit, and, hearing nothing but the noises of the forest, allowed Darry to hurry her on again.
“We are almost there,” he assured her at the last of these uneasy pauses. “I recognize that great oak we just passed, and back there a little way I thought I saw the dock.”
“Oh, Darry, I will be so glad when we get home!” panted Jessie, and, taking her hand to hurry her on, Darry saw that she was trembling.
“Why, I do believe you are frightened,” he said, in quick concern. “What are you afraid of, Jess?”
“I don’t know,” she gasped, between quick-drawn breaths. “I sort of have a feeling that something terrible is going to happen. I can’t tell you what makes me feel that way. It is just silly, I suppose——”
“You are tired,” Darry interrupted, kindly. “Let’s not hurry so fast. We don’t have to, you know. We could find our way blindfolded from here on.”