There was a tense silence.
The Outlaws, having, as they thought, narrowly saved themselves from destruction on one side of the hill, were quite unprepared for this attack from the other. It unnerved them. It paralysed them. They had no reserve of ingenuity and aplomb with which to meet it.
William gulped and blinked and said, “Yes.”
“All?” boomed the ferocious man, “well, all I can say is that it’s hardly worth my while to come all this way for you. I’d understood that it was quite a different sort of affair altogether. Do you mean to say that there are only four of you?”
William felt that he had done all that could be expected of him and nudged Ginger.
“Er-yes,” quaked Ginger.
“Only four of you,” said the ferocious man ferociously, “and how old?”
Douglas and Henry had slunk behind William and Ginger. Ginger nudged William to intimate that it was his turn.
William swallowed and said feebly, “Eleven—eleven and nearly three-quarters.”
“Pish!” said the man in a tone of fierce disgust. “Eleven! As I say I’d never have agreed to come if I’d known it was this sort of an affair. I naturally imagined—however, now I’m here—and it’s late to start with——” He looked at them and seemed to relent somewhat, “I gathered that you know a fair amount about the subject and you must be keen. I suppose one should be thankful for four keen students even though they seem so very—however,” his irritability seemed to get the better of him again, “let’s get to business. We’ll start over here ... quickly, please,” he snapped, “or we’ll never get through this afternoon——”