“What! after waking me up to listen!”
“Oh, I’ll go!” said Tom, following his companion’s lead and beginning to dress.
“Tell you what,” said Dick; “we’ll get out of the window and drop down.”
“And how are we to get back?”
“Short ladder,” said Dick laconically. “Come along. Ready?”
“Yes, I’m ready.”
The boys moved to the window, and, setting the example, Dick placed one leg out, and was seated astride the sill, when the bed-room door was suddenly thrown open, and the squire appeared.
“Now, then! What does this mean?” he cried angrily.
“We heard something wrong with the beasts, father, and we were going to see,” cried Dick.
“Heard something wrong with the beasts, indeed! Yes, and I heard something wrong with them. Now, then, both of you jump into bed, and if I hear another sound, I’ll—”