Read "Phroso" by Antonio Hope online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
Was this a pantomime? For a moment I declared angrily that it was no better; but the next instant changed the current of my feelings, transforming irritation into alarm and perplexity into the strongest excitement. For Phroso's laugh ended -- ended as a laugh ends that is suddenly cut short in its career of mirth -- and there was a second of absolute stillness. Then from the front of the house, and from the back, came the sharp sound of shots -- three in rapid succession in front, four behind. Denny rushed out from the kitchen, rifle in hand.
'They're at us on both sides!' he cried, leaping to his perch at the window and cautiously peering round. 'Hogvardt and Watkins are ready at the back; they're firing from the wood,' he went on. Then he fired. 'Missed, confound it!' he muttered. 'Well, they don't come any nearer, I'll see to that.'