"You hold--"
He did not finish, for just then one of the men outside growled--plainly
heard through the thin door: "Now, then, where are yer shovin' to?"
"In here," roared a voice that sent a thrill of joy through me.
"Now, then, what d'yer want?" cried the big fellow, thrusting me behind
him as Ike kicked open the door and strode into the room.
"What do I want?" he roared. "I want him and our cart-rope. Now, then,
where is it?"
There was a fierce muttering among the men, and they drew together while
the boy and the woman cowered into one corner of the attic.
"Oh! you're not going to scare me," cried Ike fiercely. "There's the
police just at hand if I wants help. Now then, where's that rope?"
"What rope?" growled the ruffian. "I don't know about no ropes."
"They threw it out of the window, Ike," I cried.
"That's a lie," snarled the man. "There ain't never been no ropes
here."
"There has been one," I cried, feeling bold now; "but they threw it out
of the window."
"Well, of all--" began one of the men, who had crossed the room with his
companion to the big ruffian's side.
"You go on down, my lad," whispered Ike in a low deep voice. "Go on,
now."
"But are you coming?" I whispered back.
"You may depend on that," he said, as if to himself, "if they'll let me.
Go on."
I moved towards the open door, when one of the men made a dash to stop
me; but Ike threw put one leg, and he fell sprawling. At the same
moment my enemy made a rush at Ike, who stepped back, and then I saw his
great fist fly out straight. There was a dull, heavy sound, and the big
ruffian stopped short, reeled, and then dropped down upon his hands and
knees.
"Quick, boy, quick! You go first," whispered Ike, as I stopped as if
paralysed; "I'll foller."
His words roused me, and I ran out of the room.