"I don't blame you."
It grew dark. Outside they heard the murmur of voices for a time and then all became quiet. Just before silence fell and snores became audible they heard the man on duty as their guard call for some coffee to keep by his side during the night.
"I'll send that brat of a Wren to you with it directly," they heard Beppo's wife reply; "the little beast, it'll do her good to work."
Then came the sound of a slap and a sob.
The boys' blood boiled.
"Oh, what wouldn't I give to have Master Beppo in a twenty-four-foot ring," breathed Roy.
"I think he'd look well decorating a tree," grated out Jimsy viciously.
The night wore on, but the boys did not sleep. Their tight bonds and worry over their situation prevented this.
All at once Roy's attention was attracted by somebody raising the flap at the back of the tent. Next something crawled in. At first he thought it was a large dog.
But then came a whisper: