“Didn't you see him?” “Oh, well, I--” “What was it he said this time?” “Oh,--he said something to Joe about not getting excited. I guess he thought he was kind o' mean to the lady. Anyhow, she come down after a little and kind o' stood around behind things. She was frightened some, I guess. And then they all went off.” “Which way?” “I dunno. They told us we hadn't better watch 'em, and so I thought maybe I wouldn't.” “Was that the last you saw of them?” “Well--not quite.” “Not quite! What else?” “Before they'd gone very far, the boss came back.” “Oh, he did?” “And he told Pa he guessed Joe was a little excited, and they hadn't meant to be hard on him. And so he gave Pa a little money for his trouble.” “I thought you said your father wasn't mixed up with them.” “He ain't. Not a bit.” “But you say he took their money?” “What else could he do? They ain't the sort o' men you'd want to argue with.” “There is something in that. But why did he try to lock us in here?” “I dunno.” “Oh, you don't.” “No, but--I 'll tell you. Pa's rattled.” “I shouldn't wonder.” “He come up to my room just after he'd been out here with you, and says if I ever said a word about it, it would land the whole family in state's prison. That ain't so, is it?” “Well, I'm not prepared to say.” The cigar was out again. “Oh, say, now, it wasn't his fault. He didn't do nothing but what they made him do.” “Of course, the fact that he helped them under compulsion might be considered in a court of law, but I'm not prepared to say that it mightn't go hard with you all. I 'll do what I can to get you out of it, but it's a bad scrape. What direction is Hewittson from here?” “Off that way. There's a road 'most all the way.” “That's first-rate. I want you to go with us.” “When?” “Now.” “Oh, Pa--he wouldn't let me--” “But I tell you to come.” “Would it help us any in getting off?” “I might be able to make it easier if you really give me valuable assistance.” “We 'll have to get away pretty quiet.” “Very well.” Beveridge was rolling up the blue dress into a small bundle. “All ready, Bert--Smiley?” “All right here.” “Put out your light, Axel.” They stepped cautiously outside, and the boy locked the door behind them. “Hold on,” he whispered; “don't go around that way. Pa ain't asleep, never in the world!” “Which way shall we go?” “Here--after me--through the cow-yard.” They slipped around behind the barn, made a short detour through the edge of the forest, and reached the road beyond the house. “Does this road run both ways, Axel?” Beveridge asked. “Yes, from Hewittson to Ramsey.” “Do you hear that, Smiley? We must have been within a few hundred yards of it most of the way.” “Never mind, we 'll make better time now, anyhow.”