Page:A Child of the Jago - Arthur Morrison.djvu/373

 stuff's in the garret. Best on'y one goes, quiet."

Josh sat, and Bill, taking his lantern, crept up the stairs noiselessly, save for one creak. He gained the stair-head, listened a moment, tip-toed along the small landing, and was half-way up the steep and narrow garret-stairs, when he heard a sound, and stopped. Somebody was on the lower flight.

There was a heavy tread, with the kick of a boot against stair or skirting-board; and then came noisy steps along the landing. Josh was coming up in his boots! Bill Rann was at his wits' end. He backed down the garret-stair, and met Josh at the foot. "Are ye balmy?" he hissed fiercely, catching Josh by the collar and pulling him into the turn of the stairs. "D'ye want another five stretch?"

A loud creak and a soft thump sounded from behind the door at the other end of the landing; and then a match was struck.