"My shoes are beginning to rub my heels," Tompkins said, "so I
will take the shortest way and risk it. I don't see we can go far
out of our way."

"I don't see that we can," Ned replied. "Marsden lies to the east,
so we have only to keep our backs to the sun; it won't be down for
another two hours yet, and before that we ought to be in."

By this time they had taken their rods to pieces, wound up their
lines, and were ready to start. A few minutes' sharp climbing took
them to the top of the slope. They were now upon the moor, which
stretched away with slight undulations as far as they could see.

"Now," Ned said, "we will make for that clump of rocks. They seem
to be just in the line we ought to take, and by fixing our eyes
upon them we shall go straight."

This, however, was not as easy to do as Ned had fancied; the ground
was in many places so soft and boggy that they were forced to make
considerable detours. Nevertheless the rocks served as a beacon,
and enabled them to keep the right direction; but although they made
their way at the best of their speed it was an hour after starting
before they approached the rock.

When they were within fifty yards of it a figure suddenly rose. It
was that of a boy some fifteen years of age.

"Goa back," he shouted; "dang yer, what be'est a cooming here vor?"