“We ought to be going back,” said Janet at length, “for I feel the air damp, though you don’t find it out, Dick, and I know that the sun must have set.”
“There will be plenty of light for me to see my way home,” answered Dick; “but we will turn, as you wish it.”
They had not got far on their way back, when Janet felt Dick give a start, and she heard the sound of horses’ approaching at a quick pace.
“What do you see?” she asked.
Dick did not answer; he was looking about to find some place of concealment. Had he been alone he could easily have hid himself, but he could not leave Janet. The horsemen approached rapidly. Dick tried to walk on in an unconcerned manner. In another minute they were up to him, and he saw Lord Reginald and Mr Voules. He felt sure that they recognised him, for he saw the latter turn to the young lord and make some remark, though, possibly on Janet’s account, he did not speak sufficiently loud to allow what he said to be heard. They both, however, stared very hard, and then passed on, allowing Dick and his sister to proceed on their way.
“Who are those persons?” asked Janet.
Dick told her, but, not wishing to alarm her, observed, “If they knew me, they didn’t think it worth while to interfere. I don’t suppose any harm will come of it.”
Janet, however, became very anxious. “As they are officers of the ship you ran away from, they’ll think it right to take you. Oh, Dick! you must try and hide where they can’t find you. It would be dreadful to have you carried off again!”
“Don’t tell father and mother, then; it will frighten them, and I’ll see what’s best to be done. Both these fellows hate me, and I don’t suppose they will let me remain in quiet. They were afraid of attempting to seize me, for they knew well that they would have found it a tough job.”
It did not occur to Dick that he enjoyed his safety at the moment from being in company with his blind sister, as Lord Reginald, at all events, was unwilling to interfere with him.