"Hello," answered a faint voice off in the darkness of the yard.
Rush darted forward, followed by the head melter and his two companions.
"Where are you, Bob?"
"I'm here—what's left of me, and that isn't much."
They found Bob on his knees, gingerly rubbing the injured portion of his anatomy.
"Are you hurt?" begged Steve solicitously.
"Hurt? Why, I'll never be able to walk again as long as I live! I'll have to sit around all the rest of my life."
Bob's companion was helping him to his feet, bringing groans of pain from the unfortunate Jarvis.
"Don't touch my hands; they're skinned. Oh, what a fool I am! Let me alone; don't you see I'm skinned alive?"