“You’d better give that up,” said Andy, his eyes flashing with excitement.
Somehow all his timidity had vanished, and he was firmly resolved to defend the property, intrusted to his charge as long as his strength or shrewdness enabled him to do so.
“Your life shall pay for this,” exclaimed the injured burglar, with a terrible oath.
Andy realized that he would fare badly if he should fall into the clutches of the villain, whose face was actually distorted by rage and pain. The extremity of his danger, however, only nerved him for continued resistance.
“Once more, will you open the window?” demanded Hogan, who would not have parleyed so long if he had known any way to get in without Andy’s help.
“No, I won’t!” answered Andy with resolution.
Mike Hogan surveyed the window, and considered whether it would be feasible to throw his burly frame against it, and so crush it in. Undoubtedly he could have done it had he been on the same level, but it was about three feet higher than he, and so the feat would be more difficult. Besides, it would be a work of time, and Andy, in whom he found much more boldness than he anticipated, might shoot him.
A thought came to him, and he began to descend the sloping roof.
“What is he going to do now?” thought Andy. “Has he given it up as a bad job?”
This was a point which he could not determine.