"No, his back is toward us. But he's limping, all right. I guess that jump jarred him up a bit. Where is Koku?"
"There he goes now!" exclaimed Ned, as a figure leaped from the side door of the house—a gigantic figure, scantily clad.
"Get to him, Koku!" cried Tom.
"Me git, Master!" was the reply, and the giant sped on.
"Let's go out and lend a hand!" suggested Ned, looking at the water pitcher as though wondering what he had intended to do with it.
"I'm with you," agreed Tom. "Only I want to get into something a little more substantial than my pajamas."
As the two lads hurriedly slipped on some clothing they heard the voice of Mr. Swift calling:
"What is it, Tom? Has anything happened?"
"Nothing much," was the reassuring answer. "It was a near-happening, only Ned woke up in time. Someone was in our rooms—a burglar, I guess."
"A burglar! Good land a massy!" cried Eradicate, who had also gotten up to see what the excitement was about. "Did you cotch him, Massa Tom?"