With trembling fingers he ransacked his trunk . There was no trace of the letters . With a groan he dropped his face in his hands and tried to think . His letters were gone -- those precious letters , held almost too sacred for his own eyes to read after they were written -- had been stolen from him ! The inmost secrets of his soul had been betrayed . Who had done this hideous thing ? He rose and went downstairs . In the farmyard he found Link tormenting his dog . Link was happy only when he was tormenting something . He never had been afraid of anything in his life before , but now absolute terror took possession of him at sight of the schoolmaster 's face . Physical strength and force had no power to frighten the sullen lad , but all the irresistible might of a fine soul roused to frenzy looked out in the young man 's blazing eyes , dilated nostrils , and tense white mouth . It cowed the boy , because it was something he could not understand . He only realized that he was in the presence of a force that was not to be trifled with . `` Link , where are my letters ? '' said the schoolmaster . `` I did n't take 'em , Master ! '' cried Link , crumpling up visibly in his sheer terror . `` I did n't . I never teched 'em ! It was Sis .
I told her not to -- I told her you 'd be awful mad , but she would n't tend XXXXX me .
With because farmyard for in letters of something that to