“Hush,” said David. “Squat down before he sees us.”
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“I shan’t come with you,” said Nipper. “I have a plan of my own.”
“Out with it, kid!” said Bill, twisting his small brother’s arm till he started his siren-shriek.
“Let go!” he yelled, “and I’ll tell you. I’m going to explore Prior’s Wood. Don’t you remember that story she told us? And she said we might find the Scout if we went in Prior’s Wood.”
“I think,” said Bill, “we’ll leave the calves for to-day, and go to Prior’s Wood. It’s probably all a pack of lies, but we might as well go and see.”
And so, after breakfast, before Miss Prince had time to call them for lessons the three boys ran out across the fields to the wood. They had not gone far when David stopped short.
“Hush!” he said. “Squat down before he sees us—quick!”
The other two followed his example, and squatted down, peering cautiously over a clump of bracken.