"I'm damned if it is!" retorted Warner. "I'll settle that question once for all!" And he leveled his automatic and sent a stream of lead through the green door in the wall.
No more blows fell on it, but all over it, from top to bottom, white splinters flew while bullets poured through it from outside.
"You are wrong to involve yourself," insisted Halkett, raising his voice to dominate the racket of the automatics. "They want only me."
"So do I, Halkett. And I've got you and mean to keep you. Blood is the thicker, you know."
Philippa came from the arbor, carrying the badly frightened cat with difficulty.
"Is it really war?" she asked calmly, while Ariadne alternately cowered and struggled.
"Just a little private war," said Halkett. "And you had better go into the house at once——"
"You and I should go, also," added Warner, "if there are more than two men out there."
"I saw at least half a dozen beyond the wall. You are quite right, Warner; we couldn't hope to hold this garden. But I dislike to go into a strange house and invite assault on other people's property—just to save my own hide——"
"Keep out of range!" interrupted Warner sharply, taking him by the arm and following Philippa around the garden toward the rear of the house.