Part 35 (2/2)
Manuel's heart was pounding with agitation.
”Ah, by the way,” said Vidal. ”If by any accident we should be surprised, we mustn't run; we've got to stick right in the house.”
El Bizco burst into laughter; Manuel, who knew that his cousin wasn't talking just for the sake of hearing his voice, asked:
”Why?”
”Because if they catch us in the house it's only a balked attempt at robbery, and the punishment isn't severe; on the other hand, if they catch us in flight, that would be a successful robbery and the penalty would be great. So I was told yesterday.”
”Well, I'll escape if I can.”
”Do as you please.”
They scaled the wall; Vidal remained astride of it, leaning forward and watching for signs of any one. Manuel and El Bizco, making their way astraddle along the wall, approached the house and, entrusting their feet to the roof of a shed, jumped down to a terrace with a bower slightly higher than the orchard.
The rear door and the balconies of the ground floor led to this gallery; but both the door and the balconies were so well fastened that it was impossible to open them.
”Can't you make it?” whispered Vidal from his perch.
”No.”
”Here, take my knife.” And Vidal threw it dawn to the gallery.
Manuel tried to pry the balconies open with the knife but met with no success; El Bizco attempted to force the door with his shoulder and it yielded enough to leave a c.h.i.n.k, whereupon Manuel introduced the blade of the knife and worked the catch of the lock back until he could open the door. El Bizco and Manuel then went in.
The lower floor of the house consisted of a vestibule, which formed the bottom of a staircase leading to a corridor, and two rooms whose balconies overlooked the orchard.
The first thing that came to Manuel's head was to open the lock of the door that led to the road.
”Now,” said El Bizco to him, after admiring this prudent precaution, ”let's see what there is in the place.”
They set about calmly and deliberately to take an inventory of the house; there wasn't three ochavos' worth of material in the entire establishment. They were forcing the dining-room closet when of a sudden they heard the bark of a dog close by and they ran in fright to the gallery.
”What's the matter?” they asked Vidal.
”A d.a.m.ned dog's begun to bark and he'll certainly attract somebody's attention.”
”Throw a stone at him.”
”Where'll I get it?”
”Scare him.”
”He'll bark all the more.”
”Jump down here, or they'll surely see you.”
Vidal jumped down into the orchard. The dog, who must have been a moral animal and a defender of private property, continued his loud barking.
<script>