Teddy Brisk at once discovered the interval of danger to himself.
"I'll be left alone with the dogs!" he objected.
"Sure, b'y," Billy coaxed; "but then you see——"
"I won't stay alone!" the boy sobbed. He shrank from the direction of the dogs towards Billy. At once the dogs attended. "I'm afeared t' stay alone!" he screamed. "No, no!"
"An we don't leave this pan," Billy scolded, "we'll be gobbled up in the night."
That was not the immediate danger. What confronted the boy was an immediate attack, which he must deal with alone.
"No! No! No!" the boy persisted.
"Ah, come now——"
"That Cracker knows I'm a cripple, Billy. He'll turn at me. I can't keep un off."