“Shake,” said Casco to the fakir.
“I can’t, my hands are tied,” returned Horning, rather sheepishly.
“Blame me if they ain’t. So the boy had you a prisoner, Joe.”
“Yes,” growled the swindler. “He hit me in the head with a rock first and knocked me silly.” He did not fancy having the others think he had been overpowered by a boy.
“Why was he after you?”
“We had a row up to the fair grounds.”
“I was after him because he tried to steal my money and then stole a horse and carriage,” returned Bob.
There was a general laugh, but at whose expense it was hard to say.
Casco cut the cord which bound Horning. The first thing the swindler did when released was to confront Bob.
“I’ve a good mind to fix you for that crack in the head,” he cried.