At that moment the lady of the house bounced into the room, and in very high, piercing tones, gesticulating madly all the while, attacked the Lancers.
‘For Heaven’s sake let us clear out of this,’ said Linham; ‘that old beldam would drive a stone image mad.’
They all made for the kitchen just as the cunning-eyed lad, whom Jack had noticed before, re-entered.
‘That’s a treacherous-looking young gentleman,’ said Pearson. ’ I’——
‘Hark! what’s that?’ cried Jack, placing his hand to his ear. ‘It’s a trumpet-call.’
Tan-ta-rara, tan-tarum! tan-ta-rara, tan-tarum! tan-ta-rara, tan tarum! rang out the notes.
‘The alarm!’ cried all four at once. ‘Mount!’
They ran to the barn, and were all busy tightening girths when the door was banged-to behind them and the key turned in the lock. In the semi-darkness they threw themselves against the door. No good, it held fast.
‘Trapped!’ cried Jack angrily; ‘and our comrades, what of them?’