CHAPTER 6

LOST AT THE CAPITAL

It had been arranged by the school-master that they should all meet at the
railway station to go home, next day at noon, and, as the Turner boys had to
help the Squire with the logs at the river, and the school-master had to
attend to some business of his own, Chad roamed all morning around the town.
So engrossed was he with the people and the sights and sounds of the little
village that he came to himself with a start and trotted back to the
boarding-house for fear that he might not be able to find the station alone.
The old lady was standing in the sunshine at the gate.

Chad panted--"Where's--?"

"They're gone."

"Gone!" echoed Chad, with a sinking heart.

"Yes, they've been gone--" But Chad did not wait to listen; he whirled into
the hall-way, caught up his rifle, and, forgetting his injured foot, fled at
full speed down the street. He turned the corner, but could not see the
station, and he ran on about another corner and still another, and, just when
he was about to burst into tears, he saw the low roof that he was looking for,
and hot, panting, and tired, he rushed to it, hardly able to speak.