At camp or elsewhere, Skinny was always alone, but he seemed more lonely than ever in that still wood, with the night coming on.

Nature was so big and Skinny was so little.
"Hello, Skinny, old top!" Hervey said cheerily.

"What do you think you're doing here?
Lost, strayed, or stolen ?" Skinny's eyes were bright with a strange light; he seemed not to hear his questioner.

But Hervey, knowing the little fellow's queerness, was not surprised.
"You look kind of frightened.

Are you lost ?" Hervey inquired.
For just a moment Skinny stared at him with a look so intense that Hervey was startled.