She tried to peer out through the chinks, but it was hard to move without rustling the straw, and all without was black as pitch.
Then suddenly, quite close to her on the other side of the planking, sounded a whisper, and Huldah never knew afterwards whether she was most frightened or relieved--frightened by the nearness of somebody, or relieved that the somebody was not her "uncle." "Bill, where's the sack ?" the voice asked, impatiently.
"I dunno!" answered another voice, sourly.

"You had it.

I've cut my knee on that there wall; I can feel the blood running down my leg." "You always manages to do something," was all the sympathy Bill got.
"We've got to 'ave the sack, so you'd better find it.

How're we to carry the birds without it?
In our hats ?" "It's the fowls!" thought Huldah, thrilling with excitement.
"They're going to steal the fowls.

Oh, they shan't! The lady'll think it's me.