Just then a tremendous thump came against the door!
"I'll let them know they can't pelt us like that!" exclaimed Tom, taking up the gun. "Open the door just a crack, Ad, so I can push the muzzle out."
"I would not fire right at the bush," said Addison. "But fire high to let them know we are armed."
Tom thrust out the gun—and next instant we were all nearly deafened by the report!
Immediately following the report, too, there came a loud cry, a cry that thrilled me through and through, for I thought that I recognized the voice. Theodora cried out, "Oh, that's Halse! You've shot him! You've shot him!"
"That did sound a little like Halse!" cried Willis.
We were terror-stricken, yet uncertain. Addison cautiously opened the door and stepped out. Tom and I followed him. Willis, however, caught up the gun and began hastily to reload it.
"Halse!" Addison at length called out. "Are you there, Halse?"
Theodora followed us out and also Kate. "Oh, I'm so afraid he's killed!" Theodora cried out, almost sobbing.
Several of us called out; but there was no reply; and we could now hear no movement in the hazels.