“Nasty creatures!” put in the lady fiercely.
“But he has told me his story,” said Augustus eagerly, peering at William again over the top of his spectacles. “Interesting—most interesting. If you’ll just come into my study with me a moment.”
The lady pointed to a chair in the hall.
“Sit there, boy,” she said to William.
After a few minutes she and the little old gentleman came into the hall again. “Where’s this birthmark you speak of?” said the old lady severely.
Without a moment’s hesitation, William pointed to a small black mark on his wrist.
The lady looked at it suspiciously.
“My brother will go back with you to the encampment to verify your strange story,” she said. “If it is untrue I hope they will be very severe with you. Don’t be long, Augustus.”
“No, Sophia,” said Augustus meekly, setting off with William.
William was rather silent. It was strange how adventures seemed to have a way of getting beyond control.