"Everything's the matter," he called out cheerily.

"Ned's managed to half pull down the house trying to get at something from my saddle-bags." "I hope he has not hurt himself," broke in another voice mischievously.
"Answer, you clumsy villain," whispered Lee, with twinkling eyes.
"I'm all right, thank you," responded Falkner, with unaffected awkwardness.
There was a slight murmuring of voices, and then the door was heard to close.

Lee turned to Falkner.
"Disarm that hound and turn him loose outside, and make no noise.

And you, Manuel! tell him what his and your chances are if he shows his black face here again." Manuel cast a single, terrified, supplicating glance, more suggestive than words, at his confederate, as Falkner shoved him before him from the room.

The next moment they were silently descending the stairs.
"May I go too, captain ?" entreated Manuel.