“Do you think you can make it go?” Tom asked of Jack, in a low voice, after the former had been through it, and Mr. Peregrine had explained his stumbling-block.
“I think so,” said Jack, “but I don’t want to brag. You and I will have to make a trip to Boston as soon as possible, to get several supplies and fittings. As soon as we have those we can go right ahead.”
“That’s the idea,” agreed Tom enthusiastically, but the next moment he broke off abruptly, and pointed to a small window at the back of the shed.
“There was a man with a red beard peeping in at us through that window an instant ago,” he exclaimed.
“It must have been one of the spies that Mr. Peregrine fears; one of the men we met on the road,” exclaimed Jack, and without a thought of the consequences he dashed out of the shed, followed closely by Tom.
CHAPTER IX—A MYSTERIOUS MAN
As the two boys got outside, they saw a man with his head bent low, darting across the greensward surrounding the construction shed.
“Hi! Hold on! Stop!” shouted Jack.
But the fellow kept on without turning his head. He was evidently making for a lane which ran at the rear of Mr. Peregrine’s grounds. But a high fence separated him from it, a fence which surrounded the estate on all four sides, for Mr. Peregrine had no liking for uninvited visitors.
“He’ll have to stop when he gets to the fence,” panted Tom; “my, but he can run!”