Holding the cord in readiness, the two brothers approached the man, one on either side.
“You take his feet, and I’ll attend to his hands,” whispered Frank. “Have a slip-noose ready to put on, and pull it tight. Then take several turns and we’ll truss him up.”
They worked silently and rapidly. Andy slipped the coil of rope about the man’s ankles, and pulled the noose taut. As he was doing this the man stirred and murmured:
“I’ll get even with you for this, Hank Splane!”
“Quick! He’ll come to in a minute!” whispered Andy.
“I’ve got him,” answered Frank. As one of the man’s arms was partly under him the lad had to pull it out before he could slip the noose around it. But he finally accomplished this, and, just as he had it tight, the fellow suddenly sat up.
“Here! What’s this? Splane, are you crazy to tie me up this way? Let me go, I say, or I’ll make you sorry for this. Let me go, I say!”
He was struggling violently, swaying to and fro as he sat on the sands. Then his vision, which was probably obscured by the blow he had received, cleared, and he saw the two boys holding the ends of the ropes that bound him.
“Oh, it’s you; is it?” he gasped, plainly astonished. “Didn’t I tell you to stop following me? I won’t have it! If you don’t—” He stopped short. A look of wonder followed by one of alarm came over his face.
“The cave!” he exclaimed. “I left you in the cave. The tide was rising. You—you—”