Yield thyself, and come down!"
And just then the hedgehog which Humphrey had surmised might be in the
hollow, moved a little farther along on the branch, rustling the leaves
as he did so. In the darkness the face of the spy was still turned
upward. He had forgotten that he was alone and unaided. And he thought
only of getting hold of the boy he sought.
"Come down!" he repeated. "Come down, I say! Make no dallying!"
And then the hedgehog rolled himself into a ball and came down plump
into the face of Walter Skinner.
"Ugh! what have we here?" sputtered the spy, starting back.
Hugo and Humphrey did not wait for him to discover, but stepping softly
away they went to the thicket, where the hungry animals gave them a
warm welcome, and where they thoroughly enjoyed the first meal they had
had since morning. Their supper eaten, Humphrey untied horses and
hound, to lead them to water.
"Thou wilt be caught," objected Hugo, nervously.
"Not I," returned Humphrey, easily. "I fear not the spy to-night. If he
heareth aught, he will think another hedgehog about to drop upon him.
Come thou with me and see.
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