The girl felt her own breath go ratatat
as she put the question.

"Oh-h! only some fellow rattling--rat??
thng--beans in his pocket. Let's get
away--quick!"

And then Pemrose knew what it was to
look upon a Stoutheart "rattled."

But, with that, a voice, a cry, not loud,
but strong, exploded like a spring gun in
the cave,--suddenly halting advance.

"What's that outside? What's that
outside?" it whooped. "Is it an aeroplane
? Two aeroplanes? Oh! hurry out
-and see."

"A dozen aeroplanes! A corps of aeroplanes!"
boomed back those flaunting big
boys, of whom the nickum was leader,
playing up to the cue of the Scoutmaster
who had started the concentrated cry.
"Oh, hurry--hurry!"

She saw him fling his mayflowers on the
ground, that strange youth, and snatch.at
Una's hand, to drag her along towards
the low cave entrance. He made a
[[170]]

p169 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p170w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p171

v?