There was a loose
board at the back. I could slip out of the closet through that hole. I
hid down in the lower part of the boat. I'll show you."
"You poor boy!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey when, with her husband, she had
come to see the "mystery," as Bert laughingly called him.
"Indeed we'll forgive you. You must have had a terrible time, hiding
away as you did. Now tell us all about it. But first I want you to
drink this warm milk Dinah has made for you," for Mrs. Bobbsey had
told the cook to heat some. "You look half starved," she said to the
boy.
"I am," answered Will. "I--I didn't take any more of your food than I
could help, though."
"Yo' am welcome to all yo' want, honey lamb!" exclaimed Dinah. "Mah
land, but I shuah am glad yo' ain't no ghostest! I shuah am!" and she
sighed in relief, as she saw that Will was a real, flesh-and-blood
boy. He was, however, very thin and starved-looking.
"Now tell us all about it," said Mr. Bobbsey. "How did you come on our
boat?"
Will told them. After Mr. Bobbsey had stopped the cruel farmer from
beating him, Will crawled up to his room to sob himself to sleep. Then
he began to think that after the houseboat had gone, Mr. Hardee would
probably treat him all the more meanly, on account of having been
interfered with.
"So I just ran away," said Will.
Pages:
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172