"I will," she said, clambering up the steps.
Tommy stooped down and gave her a hand.
"Good girl," he said, approvingly. Then he laid his hand on her lips, and they crouched back into the shade.
For into the barn stepped one of the farm labourers.
"We mustn't get found out, for the man here is an awful beast of a chap," said Tommy, in a low whisper.
The labourer had not perceived them and was soon bent over a machine chopping up fodder for the cattle.
His back was towards them, and he breathed heavily, for the work was hard. His red neck formed a tempting target, and Tommy was an accurate shot. Moreover, his pockets were full of peas.
He took a careful aim and let fly, and there was a hoarse exclamation from the man at the wheel.
Tommy drew back into shelter, where Madge was curled up in the new hay.
"Got him rippingly," said Tommy, "plumb in the back of the neck."