Page:Cornelia Meigs-The Pirate of Jasper Peak.djvu/124

 that tall figure striding away in the moonlight down Rudolm’s single street.

“Over yonder under that maple,” continued Oscar, “is where I buried little Hendrik, so now  I have no company but Hulda. She is not much good to talk to, Hulda isn’t, but she is a nice cow  in her way. It has been good to have you here, Hugh, for it has been a little lonely since little  Hendrik was gone.”

He laid his scarred hand on Hugh’s knee and looked very steadily out across the hills. Hugh sat very straight, staring at the Pirate’s house  with new and fascinated interest, thinking very  deeply. Presently he broke out again.

“Oscar,” he said, “why do you live here all alone? You are in danger, you are not happy, what good is it going to do you in the end?”

His friend answered with a little hesitation, his words coming almost shyly at first, but gradually gathering headway as he put into speech the  thought that possessed his whole heart.

“It is on account of those people back in Rudolm. They, and my father with them, came