Part 28 (1/2)
”Arht Mr
Perry said--”
”Oh, yes, he said we couldn't have his auto a very effective substitute since I ca back the leather sling, thereby stretching the elastics to their full capacity His searchlight he had switched off after finishi+ng the work on his catapult, and the only illumination in the open area came from the moon over the tree tops
”Did you ht?” demanded Max in astonishment
”Sure--why not?” was the other's reply
”Well, you're soht of it If anybody means mischief around here, he'd better look out, with a weapon like that in your hands”
”You bet he had,” Bud returned with a sturdiness of purpose, indicating to his Canadian friend that he meant business ”And there's at least one prawler around here already I'lad you came out here, for I was just about to come in and wake up the whole ca?”
”I don't want to let on that I know anybody is prowling about,” Bud replied; ”but if you'll watch those bushes straight south of here for a while you'll make out the form of a man half hidden there He moves a little every now and then Be careful and don't let him know you known he's there”
”I won't,” Max replied excitedly ”Why don't you shoot at him?”
”I don't want to do that unless I have to,” Bud replied ”Besides, I'd like to knohat he's up to Why did you come out here? Couldn't you sleep?”
”I didn't sleep a wink; I couldn't My head was in a whirl all the tis as this Believe me, it was some spooky job, out here all alone”
”Yes, that's true,” Bud agreed ”I'h to have your company By the way, you haven't explained how you happened to colad to have you here, but I ondering how your folks happened to let you come”
”Mr Buckley is my uncle,” Max replied ”I called hi on out here, and he asked ”
”Oh, that's it,” Bud returned ”I ondering if you Canadian boys are way ahead of us Yankee boys when it co as you please My father wouldn't let ”
”I guess we're not much different fro as you please, it seeshot after Mr Perry said youlike a pistol,” Bud replied ”You couldn't kill anybody with it”
”I don't know about that,” Max answered with a shake of his head ”I wouldn't like to be in front of it when you shot I bet you could knock a fellow silly with it”
”Maybe I could Well, anyway, a slingshot's a long way fro a pistol Have you made that fellow out yet?”
”Yes, you bet I have,” answered Max ”I've seen 'im move several times”
”Let's sit down and pretend not to suspect that anybody's watching us,”
Bud proposed ”Then ht, but we'll have to keep a close watch out of the corner of our eyes”