“I thought the robber might come here in the middle of the night, and I could fire at him out of the window.”
“I don’t know as it’s prudent, Ben.”
“If you would rather fire at him yourself, Mr. Winter, of course I won’t ask for the gun.”
“No, no,” said Jacob hastily, “you can take it if you want to. But be keerful, be keerful!”
So Ben took the gun and carried it up to the attic chamber where he and Albert were to sleep.
“Is it loaded, Ben?” asked Albert.
“Yes, it’s loaded with bird shot. I don’t want to kill the man, but I’ll give him a scare.”
CHAPTER V.
A MIDNIGHT CALL.
Probably no more astonished man lived than the tramp when his consciousness returned and he found himself lying on his back under the big oak tree. He lifted himself on his elbow and tried to remember what had happened.