“He is probably still chasing the bad man,” said Chester.
As if in answer to her wail a hasty tread was heard at that moment and a bushy red head without a cap appeared at the window, as if flung thither by the hand of a giant. The bright light within the door told him the story.
“The top of the morning to ye all, for I jedge it’s near morning, as Tim Mulligan said after he had been slaaping fur two days and nights. I hope ye are all well.”
He began climbing through and was half inside when Nora dashed forward and caught hold of his arm. It so disarranged his balance that he tumbled on the floor, the rifle falling from his grasp.
“I’m so glad to see you, Mike! I was afraid those awful people had killed you,” said the happy girl. “Are you hurt?”
“Not worth speaking of; I think my neck is broke and me lift leg fractured in two places, but niver mind.”
Then the exuberant youth told his story, to which his friends listened with breathless interest.
“Then you didn’t catch the villain?” said Chester inquiringly.
“No, but I made it hot fur him, as me cousin said after chasing the expriss train a couple of miles. He has longer legs than mesilf. The next time I engage in a chase wid him I’ll make sure his legs is sawed off at the knees, so as to give me a chance. If I had thought to have that done I’d brought the spalpeen back to ye.”
“Well, you drove him off in the nick of time. He didn’t get away with a penny,” said Alvin.