"Oh, he's a boy, a big boy, that has lost a raft that we are helping
him find, and he thinks you stole it. So he says you are a bad man;
but I know you are not, and you wouldn't do such a mean thing as to
steal a boy's raft, would you?"
"Well, no," hesitated the stranger, greatly taken aback by this
unexpected disclosure and abrupt question. "No, of course not," he
added, recovering himself. "I wouldn't steal a raft, or anything else,
from a boy, though I might occasionally borrow a thing that I needed
very much. But where is this Winn boy now? And where is your uncle?"
"They have gone out to find Don Blossom, and Mr. Brackett and Solon
have gone too, but they'll all be back directly, and then you can tell
them that you only borrowed Winn's raft, and where you have left it.
Oh, I am so glad it was you that found Don Blossom!"
"Who is Mr. Brackett?" inquired the stranger, glancing uneasily out of
the window.
"Mr. Brackett? Why, he is Winn's uncle, though you wouldn't think he
was an uncle, or any older than Winn, he is so funny, and he is helping
find the raft. But you'll see him in a few minutes, for they said
they'd only be gone an hour."
"I think I'll go and find them, and tell them they needn't hunt any
longer for the monkey," said the stranger, hurriedly.
Then, before Sabella could remonstrate, he had bent down and kissed
her, saying, "Good-bye, and God bless you, little one," opened the
door, and was gone.
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