“I’ll swear I heard something,” he muttered.
“And you did, too,” whispered Ned, in a cautious tone, but one which carried.
“Ned——” almost shouted Herc.
“Hush, you red-headed Indian! do you want to bring the insurgent army down on us?
“What on earth are you doing here?” demanded Ned, as Herc drew closer.
“Why, I saw you slip from your horse, and I guessed you were going to do something risky. I couldn’t help it, Ned, I had to be with you.”
“But, Herc, this is a dangerous errand. It may mean death.”
“I know that,” rejoined Herc simply. “That’s the reason I came—so that I could be with you in case of trouble.”
“Herc, you are a brick!” exclaimed Ned, his voice shaken with real feeling. He reached out and clasped the Dreadnought Boy’s hand.
“We’re in this thing together now,” he went on.