At the same instant the boys heard a window go up in the farmhouse.
“Wow!” exclaimed Tom, “about this time watch out for trouble.”
“Lion! Lion!” came a voice which they recognized as Turpin’s.
The dog gave a yapping bark. Simultaneously old Turpin must have seen, by the moonlight, that the barn door in which the boys had been confined was open.
“Maw! Maw!” they heard him yell at the top of his lungs, “the boys is got out, gimme my gun!”
Lion at the same instant decided to make another attack, but in the brief pause while he was listening to his master’s voice Tom had taken time by the forelock and picked up a big rock. As Lion made another spring Tom flung the rock.
There was a howl of dismay from Lion, who rushed toward the house. Shouts and cries filled the air.
“Maw! the young varmints hev killed Lion!”
“Paw, take arter ’em. Hev the law on ’em.”