“It isn’t cracked; it’s all right,” said Bert. “Kid, you keep your mouth shut.”
“I was just warning him,” muttered Kid. “Of course, if you fellows want to see him fall and hurt himself, all right. But I don’t want any man’s blood on my soul. I——”
“Shut up!” yelled Lanny. “Come on down, Small; it’s perfectly safe.”
“It is, is it?” chattered Small. “Then what’s he talking that way for? I’ll l-l-lick him when I g-g-get down!”
“You ought to be ashamed, Kid,” remonstrated Nan. “How would you like it if——”
But at that moment Small put the weight of one foot on the rung, there was a slight creak, he gave a cry of fright, tried to take his foot off again and scramble up the ladder and lost his footing entirely.
“Look out!” yelled Bert. Lanny and Nan jumped aside and Small, yelling lustily, came down the ladder like a shot, his feet waving wildly and his arms wrapped around the sides. He reached the ground in a heap. Bert hurried to him and picked him up.
“Are you hurt, Small?” he asked anxiously.
“I don’t know,” answered Small weakly, feeling himself inquiringly.