"Master Tom," said the old man in a hoarse whisper, "you must slip
away quiet from here for a few days. Michael Ley is back in the
village, an' he swears to shoot you if he can come across you.
He'll do it, too, there's murder in the look of him. Get away
under cover of night, 'tis only for a week or so, he won't be here
longer."
"But where am I to go?" stammered Stoner, who had caught the
infection of the old man's obvious terror.
"Go right away along the coast to Punchford and keep hid there.
When Michael's safe gone I'll ride the roan over to the Green
Dragon at Punchford; when you see the cob stabled at the Green
Dragon 'tis a sign you may come back agen."
"But--" began Stoner hesitatingly.
"'Tis all right for money," said the other; "the old Missus agrees
you'd best do as I say, and she's given me this."
The old man produced three sovereigns and some odd silver.
Stoner felt more of a cheat than ever as he stole away that night
from the back gate of the farm with the old woman's money in his
pocket. Old George and Bowker's pup stood watching him a silent
farewell from the yard. He could scarcely fancy that he would
ever come back, and he felt a throb of compunction for those two
humble friends who would wait wistfully for his return.
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