'Sounds like some'dy bein' murdered,' gasped Chippy. 'An' the fire's gone. Ain't it dark?'
The fire had gone down, and was now no more than a heap of smouldering ashes. Heavy clouds had drawn across the sky, and the darkness under the hanger was thick enough to cut with a knife. The two boys crouched together side by side and quaked. This was pretty frightful, to be roused in the dead dark time of the small hours by this horrible outcry.
Suddenly Dick jumped.
'Chippy!' he whispered breathlessly, 'there's someone about. I hear them.'
Both boys listened with strained ears, and caught distinctly the sound of light footfalls near at hand.
'Theer's more'n one,' gasped Chippy.
The gentle, creeping footfalls came nearer and nearer in the darkness.
'G-g-gimme the chopper!' whispered the Raven, and his voice was shaking.
'I—I—I've got it,' replied Dick; and his fingers were clenched with the grasp of despair round the smooth handle of the tomahawk.
Chippy drew his jack-knife, opened it, and gripped it in his left hand like a dagger. In his right he had seized his strong patrol staff.