Part 21 (1/2)
”I'd liked to put a rock in every one of them,” he declared bloodthirstily. ”But Father said he'd lick me, if I ever did such a trick again, that time I hit Jimmy Smith. 'Twan't nothing but a bit of gravel either. I didn't suppose it would hurt him. But Father said it was lucky I didn't kill him 'cause it struck right square above the eye.”
”'Tisn't safe, I guess, Father would never let me put anything in a snow ball,” Ernest replied.
”Do you s'pose they'll come round?”
”Don't know--but say, boys, don't let on before Mother that any thing's up. And see that you keep mighty still, Jane Morton!” he admonished.
Chicken Little who had followed the boys upstairs unperceived and stood listening, round-eyed, was indignant.
”I don't know what you are talking about so how can I tell?”
”So much the better--now run along, don't bother, we're busy.”
”But Mother said I could help you make candy and----”
”Hush,” said Sherm, ”I believe I heard somebody outside on the gravel.”
The boys turned out the gas and tiptoeing to the window, peered cautiously out.
”It is--sure's you're born. I bet it's Mike and Pat!” said Carol.
”There's somebody else over by that tree!”
”Who--where--where?” Jane crowded up excitedly to the window.
”You might as well tell her,” said Carol.
So Chicken Little was initiated into the mysteries of the feud and found it both interesting and terrifying.
”Do you s'pose they'll try to get in?” she quavered.
”Oh--Oh--there he goes!” she shrieked.
”Shut up,” Sherm's hand was clapped firmly over her mouth.
”If you can't keep still you go straight to Mother. Do you hear?” added Ernest sternly.
But at this juncture ”Mother's” voice was heard calling:
”Alice is ready for you now, boys. Try not to make too much muss.”
”Well, let's go and make the candy now and we can slip out after a while.”
”Gee, I'd like to take a shot at them from the window,” and Carol fingered one of his snow b.a.l.l.s.
”Here none of that! They'd fire back and break the window and we'd have the d.i.c.kens to pay with Father and Mother!” Ernest remonstrated sharply.
After one parting look from the window, the boys filed reluctantly downstairs.
”I'm going to stay and watch them a while,” said Chicken Little.