“It’s dangerous!” repeated Tom.
“I know it is,” said Johnny; “but I know also that you are not afraid to do it.”
“Of course he isn’t,” chimed in another. “I don’t believe that Newcombe knows what fear is.”
The long and short of the matter was, that, by the time the Night-hawks reached the fence that bounded the lower end of ’Squire Thompson’s pasture, Tom had been so skillfully handled by his companions, that he promised to put the wagon where he had found it, no matter if the ’squire and both his dogs were there to oppose him. But still he thought it best to be cautious, and, when they had arrived within a short distance of the house, Tom told Johnny to go round to the front of the lot and occupy the attention of the dogs as he had done before.
“All right, I’ll do it,” replied Johnny. “Here, Harry Green, hold my goose till I come back.”
“Now, boys, I’m afraid of that goose,” said Tom. “You had better let him go.”
“O, no,” replied Harry, “I’ll watch him.”
Tom was not satisfied with this arrangement, but he was obliged to submit to it; and Johnny, after cautioning the grand commander to be very careful, set off to find the dogs, accompanied by two or three of his friends. The dogs, being on the alert, soon became aware of the presence of the Night-hawks, and Johnny had no difficulty in inducing them to follow him to the lower end of the lot, where he stopped, and sent one of the boys back to inform Tom that the coast was clear. The grand commander reluctantly mounted to his seat in the wagon, and drove toward the barn. He drove very slowly, but the wagon, being heavily loaded, made a great deal of noise, and Tom was more than once on the point of going back to his companions, and informing them that, if they wished the wagon left in the barn-yard, they must send some one besides himself to put it there. But he knew just what would happen if he backed out, and, fearing ridicule more than the wrath of the ’squire, he kept on, resolved to make the attempt, and, if he failed, to effect his escape as best he could. He was followed by several of the Night-hawks, one of whom opened the gate when he reached the stable, and Tom drove into the yard. At this moment the goose, which Harry Green held in his arms, and which he intended to tie with his handkerchief and put into the wagon as soon as the horse was unharnessed, escaped from its captor and flew over the fence into the yard, making noise enough to awaken the soundest sleeper in the ’squire’s family.
“There,” exclaimed Tom; “I told you just how it would be.”
“Hurry up, Newcombe,” whispered several of the boys. “It’s getting unhealthy about here.”