Part 67 (1/2)
”Only fancy,” said Aleck ”Hoe did fight to get out from below, and it's all as simple as can be from up here”
And so it was, for three stones had been dran the slope, one partly over the other and the other fitting nicely to either, but only requiring a little effort to pull thee-shaped piece had been lifted out by To like a key stone or bolt to hold the others in place so tightly that it was ier had just re recess, which had probably been forlers to hold theure which had, unseen before, been following them
”Hallo!” he cried ”Who are you?”
”It's ardener, sir Come to see, sir, if I could be of any help”
”No,” cried Aleck, sharply, ”you've come to play the spy, you deceitful old rascal”
”Oh, Master Aleck, sir!” whined the ?”
”Because I know you by heart You've been hand and glove with the sh”
”Master Aleck, sir!”
”That will do,” cried the lad, indignantly ”I've never told my uncle what I've seen or heard, but I must now, and you knohat to expect”
”Master Aleck!”
”That's it, is it?” said the , and of course I shall er, I order you in the King's name to take that man prisoner”
”Ay, ay, sir,” cried Toardener
But it was ineffective, for the man suddenly thrust out a foot and hooked one of the pensioner's wooden legs off the stone floor of the slope, giving him a sharp thrust in the chest at the saame called skittles, or, more properly, ninepins, in which if you strike one of the pins deftly it carries on the blow to the next, which follows suit, and so on, till the blow given to nu laid low
”Jes' like ninepins, Master Aleck,” said To your pardon, sir; I couldn't help it”
”No, no, no, no, no!” roared Aleck, each utterance being a part of a hearty laugh, for the gardener had knocked Tom over, Tom had upset him, and the blow he carried on to thedown the slope, to coain his feet and cli at?” he shouted
”It was so coo arter him, sir?” said Tom
”No, no He is half way to the top by now”
”Yes, yes,” cried theto shut us up again”
”Not he,” said Aleck; ”he won't stop till he is safe I don't believe we shall see the lazy old scoundrel again”
Aleck's words proved to be true