Jerry seized a large boulder that lay at his feet. Though little and old, he had good strength, and the first head that rose over the wall meant a cracked skull.
"Jerry, Jerry?" He heard his name whispered by a strange voice. Where did the sound come from? Under his very feet.
"Jerry, Jer-ry," a little louder, "where are you?"
"Here behind the wall," whispered Jerry. "Who are you?"
Then there came a sound of steps, a window was raised, a shutter flung back.
At this Jerry could stand no more. He left his hiding-place, and strode boldly, the big stone in his hand, to the front of his cottage in time to see a sturdy leg emerging from his front window.
When the rest of the body followed, the mother of the little Outcasts stood before Jerry's astonished eyes.
"For the land's sake! Are you the burglar?" says Jerry.
"For the land's sake, are you?" asked Mrs. Outcast, and both began to laugh.
"And where's Peggy?" says Jerry.