Having ascertained at the farm-house that no one had seen a man with a boy in his arms or walking by him pass that way, he proceeded down a long and not much frequented grassy lane at a jog-trot, but with small expectation of finding any clew that might guide him to the discovery of the lost child.  He had ridden on thus about half a mile, when he paused at a place where another grassy lane crossed at right angles the one down which he had been riding.  It was a lonely spot, but yet was a thoroughfare from which the roads diverged to one or two large villages, and led in one direction ultimately to the market-town.  Close to the ditch opposite the road down which Amos had come was a white finger- post, informing those who were capable of deciphering its bleared inscriptions whither they were going or might go.  Amos hesitated; he had never been on this exact spot before, and he therefore rode close up to the sign-post to read the names, which were illegible at a little distance off.  To his great surprise, and even dismay, he noticed, dangling from one of the post's outstretched wooden arms, a silk handkerchief of a rather marked pattern.  Could it really be?  Yes, he could not doubt it; it belonged to little George: it was a present to the child from himself only a few days before.  Amos's blood ran cold at the sight.  Could any one in the shape of humanity have had the heart to lay violent hands on the poor boy?  There was no telling.  He scarce dared to look towards the ditch lest he should see the lifeless body there.  But perhaps a gipsy had got hold of the child, and stripped him for his clothes: such things used to be done formerly.  But, then, why hang the silk handkerchief in such a conspicuous place? for it could not have got there by accident, nor been blown there, for it had been manifestly fastened and suspended there by human fingers.  Trembling in every limb, Amos unfastened the handkerchief from the post.  There was something stiff inside it.  He unfolded it slowly; an envelope disclosed itself.  It was directed in pencil.  The direction was, "Amos Huntingdon, Esq.  Please forward without delay."