Then he ran
back and lifted the barrel off, saying,
"It's all right--she's gone, sure 'nough."
The girl cast an anxious glance up and down the street as she sprang
up.
"Oh dear!" she exclaimed. "I don't know where to go!" and Tode saw
that her eyes were full of tears.
He looked at her curiously.
"Might go down t' the wharf. Ol' woman wouldn't be likely ter go
there, would she?" he suggested.
"I don't think so. I've never been there," replied the girl. "Which
way is it?"
"Come on--I'll show ye;" and Tode set off at a rapid pace.
The girl followed as fast as she could, but the child was a limp
weight in her arms and she soon began to lag behind and breathe
heavily. "What's the matter? Why don't ye hurry up?" exclaimed the
boy with an impatient backward glance.
"I--can't. He's so--heavy," panted the girl breathlessly.
Tode did not offer to take the child. He only put his hands in his
pockets and waited for her, and then went on more slowly.
When they reached the wharf, he led the way to a quiet corner where
the girl dropped down with a sigh of relief and weariness, while he
leaned against a post and looked down at her. Presently he remarked,
"What's yer name?"
"Nan Hastings," replied the girl.
"How'd she get hold o' ye?" pursued the boy, with a backward jerk of
his thumb that Nan rightly concluded was meant to indicate the Leary
woman.
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