a tree, " L

young man repli

eat me, I think, b

ong hair was disheveled, but he lo

f service. Now, ge

ade up. No sooner had they stepped off the bridge that the brothers exchanged a look. Outside the schoolhouse, th

rted, but they never showed. Larson was too preoccupied with the possibility of an adventure to pay attention in school that day, and likewise, everyone there seemed too preoccupied to care

ning to the m

ent. Mrs. Graham'

over, Larson. Go home, everyone, a

hatcher's house. It was on the way home anyway. He knocked on the door, and old Mr. Thatcher answered. He was wearing a leather tunic that hung loos

he little one, " he smi

rso

breathed. "What'r

were disappearing, and you

d looked off at the tributary. "You should go h

e Largo wasn't around. Strolling past the sparse, thin pines out of town east to the farms, the two look

e looked over his shoulder and s

in refusal of his old age. He finally disappeared behind rows of corn. The boy went inside,

've yo

a short sword, still in its shea

rd once. He looked at it then

for the kids, " Lars

before replying, "Yes, but t

d...Thatcher even

for you...it won't happe

people are farmers, not soldiers like d

they got hunters in town. Those f

e they t

brother over for a moment then grabbe

ed to drink that,

e to say so, so shu

he, " Larson whispered and

e's just held u

ow some

hed, "and that's

to Half Pin

look after

before witnessed; it was like a curious mixture of confusion and determination. Once Larson started to nod off, a knock on th

" Largo said and opened the door. I

a trembling voice. "The Gettys girl; her older brother saw her wander off towards the woods to the north. He r