Or else Uncle Roger is trying to fool us . '' `` Your Uncle Roger went to Markdale right after milking , '' said Peter . `` He locked up the house and gave me the key . There was n't a soul in it then , that I 'm sure of . I druv the cows to the pasture , and I got back about fifteen minutes ago . I set down on the front door steps for a moment , and all at once I heard a bell ring in the house eight times . I tell you I was skeered . I made a bolt for the orchard -- and you wo n't catch me going near that house till your Uncle Roger comes home . '' You would n't catch any of us doing it . We were almost as badly scared as Peter . There we stood in a huddled demoralized group . Oh , what an eerie place that orchard was ! What shadows ! What noises ! What spooky swooping of bats ! You COULD N'T look every way at once , and goodness only knew what might be behind you ! `` There CA N'T be anybody in the house , '' said Felicity . `` Well , here 's the key -- go and see for yourself , '' said Peter . Felicity had no intention of going and seeing . `` I think you boys ought to go , '' she said , retreating behind the defence of sex .
`` You ought XXXXX be braver than girls . ''
about as for in near of on that till to