Mr. Travilla slept late also, while the vigilant
Aunts Chloe and Phillis and Uncle Joe took care that no noise should be
made, no intruder allowed access to their vicinity to disturb them.
The first news that greeted them on leaving their room, was of the failure
of the pursuit after the burglar. He had managed to elude the search, and
to their chagrin Spriggs and his party had been obliged to return
empty-handed. The servants were the first to tell the tale, then Spriggs
came in with a fuller report.
"The scoundrel!" he growled; "how he contrived to do it I can't tell. If
we'd had hounds, he couldn't. We've none on the place, but if you say so,
I'll borrow----"
"No, no! Mr. Travilla, you will not allow it" cried Elsie, turning an
entreating look upon him.
"No, Spriggs, the man must be greatly weakened by the loss of blood, and,
unable to defend himself, might be torn to pieces by them before you could
prevent it."
"Small loss to the rest of the world if he was," grumbled the overseer.
"Yes, but I wouldn't have him die such a death as that; or hurried into
eternity without a moment for repentance."
"But might it not be well to have another search?" suggested Elsie. "He
had better be given up to justice, even for his own good, than die in the
woods of weakness and starvation.
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