--I wonder why he won't tell
me. I'll try him again. Here, Jip! Jip!--Where is the dog? I thought he
went on in front."

"So did I," I said. "He was there a moment ago. I saw him as large as
life. Jip--Jip--Jip--JIP!"

But he was gone. We called and called. We even walked back to the hut.
But Jip had disappeared.

"Oh well," I said, "most likely he has just run home ahead of us. He
often does that, you know. We'll find him there when we get back to the
house."

But the Doctor just closed his coat-collar tighter against the wind and
strode on muttering, "Odd--very odd!"

THE THIRD CHAPTER. JIP AND THE SECRET

WHEN we reached the house the first question the Doctor asked of Dab-Dab
in the hall was,

"Is Jip home yet?"

"No," said Dab-Dab, "I haven't seen him."

"Let me know the moment he comes in, will you, please?" said the Doctor,
hanging up his hat.

"Certainly I will," said Dab-Dab. "Don't be long over washing your
hands; the lunch is on the table."

Just as we were sitting down to luncheon in the kitchen we heard a great
racket at the front door. I ran and opened it. In bounded Jip.

"Doctor!" he cried, "come into the library quick. I've got something
to tell you--No, Dab-Dab, the luncheon must wait. Please hurry, Doctor.
There's not a moment to be lost. Don't let any of the animals come--just
you and Tommy."

"Now," he said, when we were inside the library and the door was closed,
"turn the key in the lock and make sure there's no one listening under
the windows."

"It's all right," said the Doctor. "Nobody can hear you here. Now what
is it?"

"Well, Doctor," said Jip (he was badly out of breath from running), "I
know all about the Hermit--I have known for years. But I couldn't tell
you."

"Why?" asked the Doctor.

"Because I'd promised not to tell any one. It was Bob, his dog, that
told me. And I swore to him that I would keep the secret."

"Well, and are you going to tell me now?"

"Yes," said Jip, "we've got to save him. I followed Bob's scent just now
when I left you out there on the marshes. And I found him. And I said to
him, 'Is it all right,' I said, 'for me to tell the Doctor now? Maybe he
can do something.' And Bob says to me, 'Yes,' says he, 'it's all right
because--'"

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, go on, go on!" cried the Doctor. "Tell us what
the mystery is--not what you said to Bob and what Bob said to you. What
has happened? Where IS the Hermit?"

"He's in Puddleby Jail