"Lie there, you brute," he cried, "don't you dare to move."
"I have the lines," said Adelaide hoarsely, "but can't I do something more?"
"No. they're both down," he answered. "Wait a minute."
He found himself between the negroes lying with their faces to the ground. Instantly he grasped each by the wrist and with an inward twist he brought forth cried for mercy. It was a trick he had learned in college, that, by drawing the arm behind the back and twisting, a boy could control a strong man.
"Can't I help you?" Adelaide called again, and Percy saw that she was out of the carriage and standing near.
"Will the horses stand?" he asked.
"Oh, yes, they're quiet now."
"Then take the tie rope and tie their feet together. Use the slip knot just as you do for the hitching post," he directed. "If they dare to move I can wrench their arms out in this position. Right there at the ankles. Tie them tight and as closely together as you can. Wrap it twice around if it's long enough."
Adelaide tied one end of the rope around the ankle of one negro and wrapped the other end around the ankle of the other, drawing their feet together and fastening the ends of the rope with a double hitch, which she knew well how to make.
Percy gave the rope a kick to tighten it.