“Hardly worth while, since he is so adroit at getting out of the way,” sighed Croly, sinking into a chair as if quite exhausted with the efforts already made.
“Never say die, Mr. Croly,” laughed Rosie Travilla. “Gather up your strength and pursue the investigation. ‘Try, try, try again,’ is an excellent motto.”
“Yes, Miss Rosie, in some cases, but perhaps not in this, where the game seems to be hardly worth the candle.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Walter, “the music seems to be coming nearer! Hadn’t you fellows better start out and try again to catch the player? You might be more successful this time. I wouldn’t like to give it up so if I were in your place.”
“Then suppose you put yourself in our place, and start out in quest of him,” suggested his brother Harold.
“I’ve no objections; I’m not afraid of him,” returned Walter, jumping up; “but if you’d like to go with me, Cousin Ronald?” turning toward the old gentleman, as if with a sudden thought, “I’d be very glad to have you.”
Mr. Lilburn rose as if to comply with the request, but Mrs. Travilla interposed.
“Oh, no, my son,” she said; “Cousin Ronald must feel tired after all the exertion he has made to-day.”
“And I offer myself as a substitute,” said Dr. Conly, rising. “If the fellow should happen to be vicious enough to knock you down, Walter, it might be well to have the doctor along to see to your hurts.”
“Pshaw! I’m not a bit afraid of him,” said Walter.
“But your lack of fear is no positive proof that he is entirely harmless; so I think it would be as well for you to have an elder brother along,” remarked Herbert, following them down the veranda steps.
“Oh, come along then, and if the fellow attacks us, I’ll do my best to defend you,” laughed Walter; and the three set off together for the wood.
“Is this the bugler’s first visit to your place, captain?” asked Croly.
“I really do not remember having heard his bugle about here before,” was the reply in a meditative tone, “but I do not imagine him a person likely to do any harm.”
“Why, there is the hack from Union turning in at the great gates!” exclaimed Lulu. “We must be going to have a visitor.”
It came rapidly up the drive and paused before the entrance; the door was thrown open, and a rather young-looking man alighted, the captain at the same time rising from his chair and stepping forward to greet him.