"What is it? What's the matter?" suddenly asked Mrs. Martin. In another instant she had pulled the cord attached to an electric light over her bed, and the room was bright in a moment. Then Mr. Martin awakened, and both parents looked at the little Curlytop boy.
"What's the matter, Ted? Walking in your sleep?" asked his father. For sometimes Teddy did do that.
In answer the little fellow put his finger to his lips to make his father and mother understand that he wanted them to keep quiet.
"It's burglars—two of 'em!" whispered Teddy. "One is named Bill, but I don't know the other one's name. They've come to get Mr. Nip."
"What's that—our parrot? Nonsense!" exclaimed Mr. Martin. "You have been dreaming, Teddy, my boy. Go back to bed."
But just then, from down in the kitchen, came the voice of the parrot shrieking:
"I'm a crack-crack-cracker! Police, Fire! Burglars!"
Then came a banging, clashing sound, and a man's voice cried:
"There! See if that will keep you quiet!"
An instant later there was a sound as if the parrot's cage had been knocked over, or had tumbled over, and Mr. Nip cried: