"What's the matter?"' asked Mark.
"I thought I heard somebody walking around the house," was the
stout lad's answer.
"Maybe it's Washington," suggested the professor. "He generally
goes out to see if his chickens are shut up. He is very proud of
his flock of hens, and seems to hate to kill any for pot-pie."
They all listened. Plainly there was some one or some animal
moving about under the windows of the living-room.
"That doesn't sound like Washington," said Mr. Roumann.
Just then the colored man, who had been upstairs, attending to
some of the housework (for he was the only servant the professor
kept), came down.
"Were you just outside, Washington?" asked Mr. Henderson.
"No, sah. I'se been upstairs, makin' beds."
"There it is again!" cried Jack suddenly.
The footsteps sounded more plainly, and one of the window
shutters rattled.
"Dat's somebody after mah chickens!" exclaimed the colored man.
"I'se gwine t' git him, too!"
He started for the door, but the professor held him back.
"Let Andy go," he said. "He will make less noise than any of
us.
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