Then I spoke soft to Mark. “Go for Batten,” says I. “I’m right here, and I’ll look after Bill.” I heard him chuckle.
“What’s the matter?” Batten yelled, savage.
“The other kid’s there somewheres shootin’ me,” says Bill.
“Keep on after him,” Batten says.
Bill started, but I stung him again, and he stopped. “Not me,” he says, and began edging away. Batten saw it wasn’t any use, so he turned and got out, too.
Then I slid down to the cave.
“They most got me!” says I.
“It l-l-looked that way when you was goin’ past,” says Mark. “My, but you can run!” His little eyes were twinkling away, and his lips were working like he wanted to laugh.
“Go ahead! Laugh!” I told him. “Where’d you be if I hadn’t showed up?”
Sammy’s little ax was lying out in front of the cave, and there was a pile of shavings by the door.