"Ooof!" the lad exclaimed as someone walked into him, knocking off his spectacles. Ben bent to retrieve them and straitened them back upon his face, only to see that it was Mr. Tilcott and Mr. Jameshill who had rejoined him.

"Mr. Langley was injured," the youngster explained, "and could not go on as we must. Perhaps if we continue to venture that way, we might find someone else?"

He was still decidedly uncomfortable with having split up.