“I see something moving over there!” called out Ralph.
He pointed as he said this, and every one tried to follow the direction of his extended finger.
“Yes, there is some person coming,” ejaculated Bud Morgan.
“Only one did you say?” cried the widow, as though appalled.
“Seems to be,” Bud continued; “there, now he’s burst out on the open I can see him better.”
“Just one person?” persisted Mrs. Heffner.
“Looks like it might be the boy Peter you told us about,” said Ralph; “he’s bending over and trying to walk steady but he seems pretty groggy. Yes, that’s Peter all right, but he’s alone, Mrs. Heffner.”
“Must have cut out for himself, and tried to escape,” Jack Durham hinted, with all the scorn in his voice that a true scout would naturally feel for any one who would be guilty of such an act.
“But I wouldn’t have believed that of Peter,” objected the widow. “He always struck me as a steady, reliable, brave sort of boy. It wouldn’t be like Peter to run away and leave those motherless children to burn when the farm-house took fire.”
“Look! he’s fallen over now, poor fellow!” cried Billy.