“Yes, sir,” said Chip.
“But you—er—were—that is to say can it——”
“Yes, sir?”
Colonel Gunn tumbled out of the sleigh—almost fell out—in his amazement. He hooked his glasses on his nose and stared at Chip. He saw that Chip was steady-limbed, clear-eyed, and sober.
“Hello!” one of the fellows exclaimed suddenly, with a startled emphasis that drew attention. “What’s that mean? The Pavilion’s on fire!”
A flame had flashed from a window in the lakeside building some distance down the road, and by the light of it two men were seen running away over the snow.
CHAPTER XV.
Cowardice and Heroism.
THE two men who sat at the table in the front room overlooking the icy lake were as sinister a pair as Bully Carson could have picked up anywhere, and they were not disposed to heed the young fellow who lay bound on the floor by the door.
“Le’s carry him upstairs, Bill, and shet him in that back room, where he can’t make himself heard by anybody passin’ ’long the road; we either got to do that or gag him.”