Jerry surveyed it critically, even stepping back the better to see how the barbed wire entanglement ran along its apex.
"A rather tough job to get over that fence," he was heard to say, as though half to himself, "though I reckon I could manage it if pushed."
"But I hope you'll never try it," ventured Frank, severely.
"I was wondering," continued Jerry, paying no attention to the reproof, "whether that barbed wire was put there to prevent outsiders from getting in, or to keep some one who was in from breaking out!"
Frank started, and looked serious. He even exchanged glances with Will, as though they might have a little secret between them; but at any rate he did not see fit to encourage Jerry to pursue the subject any further.
"Suppose we let the matter drop now," he said, in that way of his which all of them considered final.
They once more moved along, and, in following the plan Frank had of reaching the old trail that led through the woods and tangle to the lake, they kept close to the high fence.
Jerry looked around him from time to time, and whenever he chanced to discover a knot-hole in one of the boards he immediately glued his eye to the aperture as if in hopes of glimpsing the hermit's house, or something else equally interesting.
As they did not hear him utter any expression of satisfaction after several of these attempts, the others set his labor down as futile.
A short time later they neared the lower end of the fenced-in estate. Frank knew he would run upon the trail near this point, and accordingly he had his eyes fixed on the ground looking for the first signs.