"Go home, Bill," said the other, in a warning voice, "and don't talk nonsense. It will all come right in time."
Then he turned away, and left Bill alone, scowling and muttering, while Nelly sat on the wall trembling with fear lest she might be discovered.
When Bill thought himself alone, he drew out a heavy pistol from his pocket, and Nelly saw him load it and thrust it into the breast of his red shirt. He then went back to the tent, and throwing himself upon one of the benches, appeared to fall asleep.
Nelly's fright increased. "I wonder," she said to herself, "if he really means to kill old Mr. Willard?" Then she determined to be very brave. What was best to do she could not tell. Finally she said to herself, "I'll just stay where I am and watch."
Nelly sat with her eyes fixed on Bill for a long time, but he did not stir until the clock in the Windham church struck six; then he stood up, and after looking all around, crossed the road and climbed the wall that inclosed Mr. Willard's wood.
"There!" said Nelly; "now I know he means to shoot Mr. Willard."
Nelly and every one living near knew that Mr. Willard, the richest factory owner in Windham, walked through these woods alone every evening, about half past six, to the post-office. Mr. Willard chose this way to the village, because it was the shortest and pleasantest.
When Nelly saw Bill climb the wall, she knew it must be for the purpose of meeting Mr. Willard, as the man's home was quite in an opposite direction; so she jumped down and followed him quickly. As she reached the upper stone of the wall inclosing the wood, she caught a glimpse of him hurrying toward the road that led to the post-office. But by the time she had reached the ground he was gone. So Nelly flew along without even glancing at the pretty golden-rod and squawberries that gleamed yellow and red between the trees.
At last Nelly gained the wide road, and looked around. Something red lying upon the ground attracted her attention. After a moment she perceived that it was Bill's red shirt, and that Bill himself was stretched upon the ground behind a large sycamore-tree, and he was almost hidden in the long grass and weeds.