“Call once again, hah?”
Skippy called, loud and long.
The wind screamed in answer, mockingly.
“Let’s beat it downstairs an’ have some light, hah?” After a pause: “You ain’t got matches, I s’pose?”
“Would I be standin’ here in the dark?”
Nickie’s throat was full of noises. “We better be careful goin’ down the ladder—say, we didn’t leave the lantern in the hall lighted.”
“An’ the one in the kitchen too,” Skippy reminded him grimly. “There ain’t no light till we get to the kitchen n’ find a match.”
Nickie stopped short. “Where’s that rope an’ that iron handle?” he asked fearfully.
“I hid ’em under that rubbish by the window just now. So go on. Le’s get down.”
Nickie sighed. “I oughta knowed you wouldn’t forget nothin’ even at a time like this.”