"Well, you vile miscreant, what can you say for yourself?"
"Me?" queried Nick, pretending to pull himself together. "Nothing at all."
"I guess that's right."
"What should I say? Why have you got me here, and tied up in this fashion?"
"You'll soon find out," cried Cervera, with vicious asperity. "What were you doing out back of my house?"
"Nothing much," Nick evasively growled, waiting to learn which way the cat was about to jump.
"Nothing much!" sneered Cervera. "You'll find that will not go down with us."
"I was looking for a chance to sleep in your stable," muttered Nick.
"You lie, you dog!" cried Kilgore, fiercely. "You were at the back window."
"Was I?"