“Think so?” was all the colonel’s answer.
“I’m sure of it. Say, I overheard Mercer talking down a speaking-tube.”
“What did he say?”
“Talked French, damn him! But say, what’s gorge?”
“Throat.”
“What’s cupillo gorge?”
“Sure he wasn’t talking of a carriage, or did he say je le couperai la gorge?”
“Maybe. I wouldn’t swear to it. I don’t parlez français a little bit.”
“Did you hear any other noises? Where were they?”
Birdsall thought he had heard other noises, and that they were down cellar. “And anyhow, Colonel, I’m dead-to-rights sure those guys are giving us hot stuff to get us out of the house. I’m for getting our men in now and rushing the house. It’s me for the cellar.”