Through it all he had kept a firm grip on his gun, as though he knew what protection he could count on from that source.
There was another grand picture that escaped Will, and which he would never cease to lament the loss of—Frank regaining his feet, those fellows scampering away in several directions, and Pet on his knees, holding one arm up as if to ward off some evil blow which he expected to descend.
“Hey, it’s only Langdon! Kim back here, yuh cowards!” bellowed Pet, as soon as his startled eyes could tell him the truth.
And the others, halted in the midst of their mad flight, looking back, saw that instead of the terrible hairy wild man of their dreams it was indeed only a boy who stood there, and he the one they hated most of all.
So they came straggling back, some looking sheepish over their recent scare, while others scowled as if in an ugly temper.
“Wot yuh want here, Langdon?” demanded Pet, bridling up as he saw that much was expected of him by his followers.
It was unfortunate that this should happen so soon after he had been making such enormous threats about what he was going to do to Frank when next they met.
What could a fellow do anyway when he was minus his coat and trousers, as well as shoes?
Frank had recovered his lost breath by now.
“Well, I might have strolled over here just to ask whether you had arrived safely after your swim; and to express a hope that you might not take cold. It’s pretty early in the season to go in, you know,” he said smoothly.