eme,oristhereatthepresentmomentsomethingmovinguponthathillside?”
Itwasseveralmilesoff,butIcoulddistinctlyseeasmalldarkdotagainstthedullgreenandgrey.
“Come,sir,come!”criedFrankland,rushingupstairs.“Youwillseewithyourowneyesandjudgeforyourself.”
Thetelescope,aformidableinstrumentmounteduponatripod,stoodupontheflatleadsofthehouse.Franklandclappedhiseyetoitandgaveacryofsatisfaction.
“Quick,Dr.Watson,quick,beforehepassesoverthehill!”
Therehewas,sureenough,asmallurchinwithalittlebundleuponhisshoulder,toilingslowlyupthehill.WhenhereachedthecrestIsawtheraggeduncouthfigureoutlinedforaninstantagainstthecoldbluesky.Helookedroundhimwithafurtiveandstealthyair,asonewhodreadspursuit.Thenhevanishedoverthehill.
“Well!AmIright?”
“Certainly,thereisaboywhoseemstohavesomesecreterrand.”
“Andwhattheerrandisevenacountyconstablecouldguess.Butnotonewordshalltheyhavefromme,andIbindyoutosecrecyalso,Dr.Watson.Notaword!Youunderstand!”
“Justasyouwish.”
“Theyhavetreatedmeshamefully—shamefully.WhenthefactscomeoutinFranklandv.ReginaIventuretothinkthatathrillofindignationwillrunthroughthecountry.Nothingwouldinducemetohelpthepoliceinanyway.Foralltheycareditmighthavebeenme,insteadofmyeffigy,whichtheserascalsburnedatthestake.Surelyyouarenotgoing!Youwillhelpmetoemptythedecanterinhonourofthisgreatoccasion!”
ButIresistedallhissolicitationsandsucceededindissuadinghimfromhisannouncedintentionofwalkinghomewithme.Ikepttheroadaslongashiseyewasonme,andthenIstruckoffacrossthemoorandmadeforthestonyhilloverwhichtheboyhaddisappeared.Everythingwasworkinginmyfavour,andIsworethatitshouldnotbethroughlackofenergyorperseverancethatIshouldmissthechancewhichfortunehadthrowninmyway.
ThesunwasalreadysinkingwhenIreachedthesummitofthehill,andthelongslopesbeneathmewereallgolden-greenononesideandgreyshadowontheother.Ahazelaylowuponthefarthestsky-line,outofwhichjuttedthefantasticshapesofBelliverandVixenTor.Overthewideexpansetherewasnosoundandnomovement.Onegreatgreybird,agullorcurlew,soaredaloftinthe