Billy knew that the man was going to the spring for water; knew where it was hidden, far in the woods, big and round, deep and clear! It was more than a hundred yards away at least. He waited and listened till the noise of snapping twigs was hushed, then crept down and peered into the hut. The place was so small there was no need of entering; he could see all the interior from the sill.
What he saw there lent wings to his feet.
He climbed cat-like to the crest again, slid through the brush, dashed across bare spots, jumped from rocks that jutted in his way, struck stones but righted himself before falling, truly “hit only the high places,” as he breathlessly told the girls waiting for him at Ellen’s Isle.
“No ‘chase’ to-day, girls. I’ve got business in town.”
“Oh, chuck the business,” Jean said impatiently. “Can’t it wait till noon? I must go home then.”
“No, it can’t wait one minute longer’n it’ll take me to get to town. Maybe I can come back though.”
“You’ll have to break the record if you get here before noon.”
“Billy, let me plan,” May Nell interposed. “We’ll work hard to fix up the Lodge before Jean has to go home. I’ll stay and wait for you, and Bouncer with me; and I’ll search for my Idean vine. I must have something that will do for that. I wish I could find a real one.”
“I hate to have you stay without Jean,” Billy objected.
“What’s the harm? She’s on Mr. Potter’s land, and the road’s near.”