Hubbard cleared his throat sharply.
“What did you do with it?”
“The skull and one of the leg bones fell down into the well when I tried to gather them up. I want to borrow some rope so I can get down in there.”
For a bare second Hubbard was silent.
“What you ought to do,” he said, gathering himself, “is to fill up that hole. It’s dangerous.”
“Yes. That’s so. But I’m goin’ to get that skull first. It’ll be a good exhibit. I’m wonderin’ whether we’ll ever find Harper’s skeleton.”
“Wait a moment,” said Hubbard huskily, starting for the barn. “I’ll get some rope and help you.”
The two returned to the Eldridge farm. They found there the dead man’s child. She had perched herself on the fallen tree.
“Damn fool!” muttered Hubbard. “Her mother lettin’ her play around here!”