“An’ be collared first thing? Not much. Why, I can shove my hand ever so far up between these boards.”
Stalky thrust an arm to the elbow between the joists.
“No good stayin’ here. I vote we go back and talk it over. It’s a crummy place. ’Must say I’m grateful to King for his water-works.”
They crawled out, brushed one another clean, slid the saloon-pistols down a trouser-leg, and hurried forth to a deep and solitary Devonshire lane in whose flanks a boy might sometimes slay a young rabbit. They threw themselves down under the rank elder bushes, and began to think aloud.
“You know,” said Stalky at last, sighting at a distant sparrow, “we could hide our sallies in there like anything.”
“Huh!” Beetle snorted, choked, and gurgled. He had been silent since they left the dormitory. “Did you ever read a book called ‘The History of a House’ or something? I got it out of the library the other day. A French woman wrote it—Violet somebody. But it’s translated, you know; and it’s very interestin’. Tells you how a house is built.”
“Well, if you’re in a sweat to find out that, you can go down to the new cottages they’re building for the coastguard.”
“My Hat! I will.” He felt in his pockets. “Give me tuppence, some one.”
“Rot! Stay here, and don’t mess about in the sun.”
“Gi’ me tuppence.”