Captain Jerry answered with a shake of the head. "But then," he said,
"Perez and me have been right here by the pump ever sence we come. He
might be 'most anywheres else, and we wouldn't see him. Want me to ask
some of the other fellers?"

"No!" exclaimed his friend, almost fiercely. "Don't you mention his name
to a soul, nor let 'em know you've thought of him. If anybody should
ask, tell 'em you guess he's right around somewheres. You two git to
work ag'in. I'll let you know if I want you."

The pair took up their buckets, and the Captain walked on from group to
group, looking carefully at each person. The Reverend Perley and some
of his flock were standing by themselves on a neighboring stoop, and to
them the searcher turned eagerly.

"Why, Cap'n Eri!" exclaimed Miss Busteed, the first to identify him,
"how you've worked! You must be tired pretty nigh to death. Ain't it
awful! But it's the Lord's doin's; I'm jest as sure of that as I can be,
and I says so to Mr. Perley. Didn't I, Mr. Perley? I says--"

"Lookin' for anybody, Cap'n?" interrupted the reverend gentleman.

"No," lied the Captain calmly, "jest walkin' around to git cooled off a
little. Good-night."

There was the most likely place, and John Baxter was not there.
Certainly every citizen in Orham, who was able to crawl, would be out
this night, and if the old puritan hermit of the big house was not
present to exult over the downfall of the wicked, it would be because