For some time Rip lay there musing, sharing the contents of his knapsack with Wolf who, into turn, was staring thoughtfully at the lengthening blue shadows of evening. Rip realized with a sing that it would be dark long before he reached the village, and he knew full well the terrible scolding he could expect from Dame Van Winkle. He stood up to go and was on his way down the mountain when he heard a voice from the distance calling his name.