"Stop! Or I'll shoot!"
It was Jack's voice.
They stopped.
"Who are you?" the voice demanded.
They clung to each other, wordless.
"Who are you?" repeated Jack.
Their voices were still palsied. They heard his feet begin determinedly to descend. Mrs. De Peyster loosed her grip on Matilda's arm and vanished noiselessly downward.
"Speak up there," commanded Jack, "or I'll fire on the chance of getting you in the dark."
"It's only me, Mr. Jack," trembled Matilda.