“Then you get back on the ground, Jasniff, just as quick as you can,” answered Roger. “We won’t stand any more of your nonsense!” and at these words Nick Jasniff lost no time in dropping out of the tree.
The gypsies and the fellow who had escaped from prison began to talk among themselves, but in such a low tone of voice that those in the tree could not make out what was being said.
“What do you suppose they’ll do next?” questioned Jessie anxiously.
“They’ll try to get us down somehow; but I’m not going,” answered Roger stubbornly.
“But they may keep us up here all night—or even longer!” returned Laura.
“Are you going to give in or not?” demanded Nick Jasniff in a loud tone of voice.
“I don’t see why we should give in,” answered Dave.
“You’ll have to do it, Porter, sooner or later. Can’t you see that we’ve got the bulge on you? If you don’t give in now, we’ll keep you up in that tree until you change your mind. The best thing you can do is to drop your pistols and give yourselves up. If you’ll do that we’ll promise to treat you well and let you go as soon as we receive that ransom we are expecting.”
“We don’t intend to give in,” answered Dave, after a few words with Roger.
“All right then, we’ll let it go at that—for the present,” answered Nick Jasniff. “I think you’ll change your tune after you have spent a night in that tree and are good and hungry,” he added cunningly. “And let me tell you, if anybody tries to escape he’ll get shot.”