下载辰思小说免费APP
Itwasmoredifficulttofollownow；therewasonlyaflimsylittleladder，andthemenascendedcautiously。Whentheysteppedoutupontheloftitwasempty。
’Hemustha’letgohere，’saidoneofthemarines，whoknewmoreaboutmillsthantheothers。’Ifhehadheldfastamomentlonger，hewouldhavebeendashedagainstthatbeam。’
Theylookedup。ThehookbywhichBobhadheldonhadascendedtotheroof，andwaswindingroundthecylinder。Nothingwasvisibleelsewherebutboardeddivisionslikethestallsofastable，oneachsideofthestagetheystoodupon，thesecompartmentsbeingmoreorlessheapedupwithwheatandbarleyinthegrain。
’Perhapshe’sburiedhimselfinthecorn。’
Thewholecrewjumpedintothecorn-bins，andstirredabouttheiryellowcontents；butneitherarm，leg，norcoat-tailwasuncovered。
Theyremovedsacks，peepedamongtheraftersoftheroof，buttonopurpose。Thelieutenantbegantofumeatthelossoftime。
’Whatcursedfoolstoletthemango！Why，lookhere，what’sthis？’
Hehadopenedthedoorbywhichsacksweretakeninfromwaggonswithout，anddanglingfromthecat-headprojectingaboveitwastheropeusedinliftingthem。’There’sthewayhewentdown，’theofficercontinued。’Theman’sgone。’
Amidstmumblingsandcursesthegangdescendedthepairofladdersandcameintotheopenair；butCaptainBobwasnowheretobeseen。
Whentheyreachedthefrontdoorofthehousethemillerwasstandingonthethreshold，halfdressed。
’Yoursonisacleverfellow，miller，’saidthelieutenant；’butitwouldhavebeenmuchbetterforhimifhehadcomequiet。’
’That’samatterofopinion，’saidLoveday。
’Ihavenodoubtthathe’sinthehouse。’
’Hemaybe；andhemaynot。’
’Doyouknowwhereheis？’
’Idonot；andifIdidIshouldn’ttell。’
’Naturally。’
’Iheardstepsbeatinguptheroad，sir，’saidthesergeant。
Theyturnedfromthedoor，andleavingfourofthemarinestokeepwatchroundthehouse，theremainderofthepartymarchedintothelaneasfaraswheretheotherroadbranchedoff。Whiletheywerepausingtodecidewhichcoursetotake，oneofthesoldiersheldupthelight。Ablackobjectwasdiscernibleuponthegroundbeforethem，andtheyfoundittobeahat——thehatofBobLoveday。
’Weareonthetrack，’criedthesergeant，decidingforthisdirection。
Theytoreonrapidly，andthefootstepspreviouslyheardbecameaudibleagain，increasinginclearness，whichtoldthattheygaineduponthefugitive，whoinanotherfiveminutesstoppedandturned。
TheraysofthecandlefelluponAnne。
’Whatdoyouwant？’shesaid，showingherfrightenedface。
Theymadenoreply，butwheeledroundandlefther。Shesankdownonthebanktorest，havingdoneallshecould。ItwasshewhohadtakendownBob’shatfromanail，anddroppeditattheturningwiththeviewofmisleadingthemtillheshouldhavegotclearoff。
ButAnneGarlandwastooanxioustoremainlongawayfromthecentreofoperations。Whenshegotbackshefoundthatthepress-gangwerestandinginthecourtdiscussingtheirnextmove。
’Wastenomoretimehere，’thelieutenantsaid。’Twomorevillagestovisitto-night，andthenearestthreemilesoff。There’snobodyelseinthisplace，andwecan’tcomebackagain。’
Whentheyweremovingaway，oneoftheprivatemarines，whohadkepthiseyeonAnne，andnoticedherdistress，contrivedtosayinawhisperashepassedher，’Wearecomingbackagainassoonasitbeginstogetlight；that’sonlysaidtodeceive’ee。Keepyouryoungmanoutoftheway。’
Theywentastheyhadcome；andthelittlehouseholdthenmettogether，Mrs。Lovedayhavingbythistimedressedherselfandcomedown。Alongandanxiousdiscussionfollowed。
’Somebodymusthavetolduponthechap，’Lovedayremarked。’Howshouldtheyhavefoundhimoutelse，nowhe’sbeenhomefromseathistwelvemonth？’
Annethenmentionedw
