Kyan, his mind filled with fearful forebodings, was busily trying to think of a reasonable excuse for the "accidental" imprisonment of his sister.

John Ellery was thinking, also, but his thoughts were not of the Peppers.
The little house was dark and still as they approached it.

No welcoming light in the dining-room windows, no open door, no shrill voice demanding to know where the wandering brother had been "all this everlastin' time." Even the hens had gone to roost.

Abishai groaned.
"Oh, dear!" he wailed.

"I'm scart to death.