Page:Redcoat (1927).djvu/78

 "You watch the door, Dad," cried Bud excitedly, "and I'll run to the house for my rifle. We've sure got him this time."

Meanwhile poor Redcoat ran backward and forward in the small henhouse, looking for a way out, but there was no opening. There seemed to be an opening, but it was so high up that he doubted whether he could use it or not. It was a window and Redcoat could see the moonlight outside. But, it was his only chance. He gripped the pullet still more firmly in his mouth, stepped to the other side of the henhouse to get a start, gave a light spring to the middle of the room, and then sprang with all the intensity of his steel muscles towards the light. There was a sound of breaking glass and splintering wood, and Redcoat landed in a sorry heap in a snow bank outside. It was lucky for him that he struck in the snow instead of upon the ground, but even so, he was badly stunned and lay in the snow for several minutes.

Finally Bud reappeared with the rifle and he and Mr. Holcome cautiously opened the