“What was the meaning of that yell I heard?” he said, as he drew near.
Neither replied.
“Do you hear, Tom? What was that noise?”
“It was a mistake, uncle,” cried Tom, rubbing his leg.
“Mistake? I said that yell. Oh, here you are.”
“Yes, uncle; it was a mistake. I hit David in the dark, and he holloaed out.”
“And enough to make any one, warn’t it, sir? Scythes and scithers, it was a sharp ’un!”
“I don’t think it was any sharper than the two you hit me, David,” said Tom, who was writhing a little as he rubbed.
“Why, you two have never been so stupid as to attack each other in the dark, have you?” said Uncle Richard.
“I’m afraid so, uncle. I saw something by the tree and heard a rustling, and I thought it must be Pete Warboys.”