Beyond the marshes the road skirted a belt of stunted woodland. This was Pat's happy hunting ground, though he never found any rabbits there. Running in and out of the tangled bushes they heard him begin to bark loudly, and then he rushed back to his master in great excitement and tried to hurry them on, and following quickly they left the road and plunged into the undergrowth. And there, under the shelter of a clump of elder, they saw a man, unconscious, on the ground.
He looked like a tramp, his clothes were so old and broken, and his face was deadly pale. Teddy looked scared and suggested going for the police, but Dick had more courage.
He remembered a little stream that ran through the Dingle not far away, and fetching some water in his cap he bathed the man's face.
Presently there was a feeble movement, and then the stranger opened his eyes and looked up at Dick, who was bending anxiously over him. And then he smiled faintly and said, "Good old George, is it you?"
"He thinks he knows you," said Teddy in a hurried whisper.
But Dick had been studying the face on the ground and recalling Paddy's description. And with a half-frightened cry he guessed the truth, and said "Uncle! It is Uncle Richard come back!"
"Are you little Dick?" asked the voice feebly. "I was coming to look for you, but I couldn't get any further. I should have died if the little dog hadn't found me. I heard him bark in my sleep and he saved me. But for that I might have died, unknown to anybody."
And Pat, knowing very well that he had done a good deed, barked again in a perfect chorus of joy.
"Let's take him home," said Teddy eagerly, not to be outdone in goodwill. "He used to play with me and I can remember him now."
But the stranger had sunk back exhausted again and Dick said quickly, "Run back, Teddy, and tell your father, and see if you can find Paddy, and ask them to get a cart or something to carry him home, or, if you will stay here, I will go."