What was she to do?
He was too big and heavy for her to carry all the way home.

She looked about her helplessly, but there was no one in sight, or likely to be at that time of the day; only those two cowards hiding behind the hedge; for it had not taken Huldah long to guess who Dick's assailants were.
From time to time Dick gave a little whimper, and Huldah lifted his head upon her lap; but she was almost afraid to touch him, lest she should cause him more pain.

How long, she wondered miserably, would it be before help came?
Would those cowards throw more stones?
It was horrible to stay there alone with that cowardly heartless pair hidden behind the hedge, and the feeling that at any moment more stones might be hurled at Dick.

To protect him she placed herself between him and the hedge.
At last, at long last, when she had begun to wonder anxiously if night would fall and still find her there; and to think how frightened Mrs.Perry must be getting already, the sound of wheels struck on her ears, and it seemed to her the most welcome sound she had ever heard in her life.
The cowards heard it too, apparently, for "Come on, Bill," called a low voice, in the direction of the hedge.

Huldah gave a great start of surprise.