"He
were an old man to wander off alone, and there's allays evil-doers round
about for the unprotected."
The boys listened to these and similar conjectures with frightened eyes;
then Dudley whispered,
"I believe he is in his cave, Roy; we'll go and look for him. Only don't
tell these women about it, because he hasn't told anybody but us where
it is."
They left the shop and started for the hills, but Roy's lameness made
progress very slow.
At last he stopped, and struggling to hide his disappointment said,
"You'll have to go on without me, Dudley. I only keep you back. This old
leg of mine always comes in the way."
Dudley stopped to consider. "It's a very long way, but we must get there
somehow. Hulloo, here's just the thing."
They had stopped at a small inn at the outskirts of the village; and
tied to the drinking trough outside, was a rough pony and cart whose
owner was enjoying himself in the tap room with his friends.
"Jump in, Roy. It's to save old Principle, and anybody would be glad to
lend his cart for that."
Roy was not long in acting upon this advice. The pony trotted forward
briskly, and the boys would have thoroughly enjoyed this escapade,
except for the fears of their friend's safety.
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