I thought I might as well save the money he'd overlooked, so I gripped it tight in my hand, and put it in my apron pocket, the same as I had Laddie's note to the Princess, and started to the barn, on the chance that Leon might be hiding.

I knew precious well I would, if I were in his place.

So I hunted the granaries, the haymow, the stalls, then I stood on the threshing floor and cried: "Leon! If you're hiding come quick! Mother will be sick with worrying and father will be so glad to see you, he won't do anything much.

Do please hurry!" Then I listened, and all I could hear was a rat gnawing at a corner of the granary under the hay.

Might as well have saved its teeth, it would strike a strip of tin when it got through, but of course it couldn't know that.