my leg hurts like the mischief for some reason or other. I thought it was better, but I must have given it a wrench.” “Take it as easy as you can,” advised Tom, but Jack did not spare himself, and limped on. Slipping, sometimes sliding, and often stumbling,[124] the four chums hurried along the path, with the relentless hermit coming after them. [124] “I suppose this ends our chances of finding the treasure in the old mill,” said Bert, when they had covered nearly the remaining distance to the boat. “I don’t see why,” spoke Tom. “We won’t dare risk going there again. He’d be sure to be on the watch for us.” “Oh, I don’t know,” replied our hero. “He can’t always stay in the mill, and we may strike a time when he goes away, as we did to-day. I’m not going to give up so soon. I want to see what that treasure looks like, if it’s there. I’m going to chance it again very soon, even if you fellows don’t.” “Oh, we’ll be with you, of course,” declared Bert. “Sure,” assented Jack, and Dick nodded to show that he, too, would not desert. A turn in the path now hid the old hermit from sight, but they could still hear him coming on, muttering threats and calling them names for interfering in his search for the hidden wealth. “It seems to me he’s farther back,” spoke Tom, listening with a critical ear to the progress of the man behind them. “It does seem so,” agreed Jack. “I hope so, for I’m about all in.” They slackened their speed, and all listened[125] intently. It was so, they could scarcely hear the approach of old Wallace now. [125] “He’s giving up!” exclaimed Dick. “Don’t be too sure,” Tom advised them. “He may be playing a trick on us. Creeping up on us without making much noise.” “Or taking a short cut, as Skeel and those two fellows did that day,” added Bert.
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