"Don’t worry," said one of the men gruffly. "If he cuts up any funny business, we’ll break his neck and chuck him down under the mill."
"That’s the easiest way to fix him, anyhow," said the other.
"I think he would like that," smiled Smart. "It would be such fun for him. Don’t kill him if he tries to get away; just half-kill him. Your feed will be brought you some time to-morrow, and you can make yourselves uncomfortable here just as much as you like. I don’t have to hurry back to the academy to get in before the cock crows. Oh, no! I’ve got plenty of time. Good morning."
Cranch saw that the rough-looking guards were in disguise, for it was plain their beards were false. After a time he began appealing to them, but they paid very little attention to him. With the aid of a pack of cards, they whiled the hours away.
Cranch was able to lie down on the floor, where some old sacks had been placed, but, when he pretended to be asleep, he kept watch for some sort of an opportunity to get away. However, when they were tired of playing cards, one of the men slept, while the other smoked and kept guard.
In the morning they provided food for Cranch, setting his hands free for him to eat, after having first tied his feet, and warned him to let the rope alone.
The food was good enough, such as it was, but Cranch choked over it. He fell to reviling the two men and calling them all sorts of hard names, until, becoming tired of it at last, they compelled him to be still.
Somebody brought food to the old mill where Cranch was kept a captive, as the long days slipped away. He tried in various ways to gain his freedom, but every effort failed, and, at last, came the night before Saturday.
The fellow was desperate. He longed to get away and turn the tables on Fardale. He thought of the satisfaction he would enjoy could he accomplish this. In the night he worked at his bonds until he felt that it was a hopeless case, and gave up in despair.
His captors welcomed the coming of Saturday, for they were becoming tired of their task. They offered him breakfast, but he had no appetite, and refused it. Again he tried all his blandishments[blandishments] on them, but they laughed at him and advised him to keep quiet a little longer.