He did not lose consciousness again.
“Take your time!––take your time!” cautioned Phil.
Slowly Jim’s strength returned and his brain cleared. He wanted to be up and away at once, but Phil, with 167 his usual caution, insisted on hearing everything that had happened before he would move a foot, knowing that if anything had still to be done Jim would be none the worse for half an hour’s rest.
“Stay where you are and tell me all about it,” he insisted.
“Stay! Hang it, man,––I canna stay. Come on! I’ll show ye. It will be better than sitting here and talking. But bide a bit! We’ll get them yet or my name’s no’ Jim Langford.
“Smiler,” he cried, “come here laddie!”
The boy came forward.
“Go up to Mrs. Clunie’s. Shut the barn door up there after ye. Don’t make a noise. Saddle our two horses and bring them doon to the corner. Our rifles as well;-they’re in the locker behind the stable door! Quick! Awa’ wi’ ye!”
Smiler nodded his head rapidly and was up the ladder and off like a shot.
“Come along here!” Jim continued to Phil.