They had clambered into the loft for the purpose of watching the progress of the preacher's meal, calculating at each step how much he would probably leave.

James Henry found a little hole in the loft directly over the table, and through this hole he did his spying.

Belton took his position at the larger entrance hole, lying flat on his stomach.
He poked his head down far enough to see the preacher, but held it in readiness to be snatched back, if the preacher's eyes seemed to be about to wander his way.
He was kept in a state of feverish excitement, on the one hand, by fear of detection, and on the other, by a desire to watch the meal.
When about half of the biscuits were gone, and the preacher seemed as fresh as ever, Belton began to be afraid for his promised biscuit and piece of chicken.

He crawled to James Henry and said hastily--"James, dees haf gone," and hurriedly resumed his watch.

A moment later he called out in a whisper, "He's tuck anudder." Down goes Belton's head to resume his watch.