“Turn out your pockets.”
“I’ll see you in Halifax first!” I burst out. “You sha’n’t go a step farther in your doings, not if I have to die for it!”
And watching my chance, I sprang at the man, and pushed his pistol aside.
He was surprised at my temerity, and for a moment I had the best of the battle; but then he gathered himself together, and sent me sprawling on the floor.
“Now lay there, and don’t you dare to move!” he commanded. “I don’t want to be too ugly, but I will be if you don’t mind what I say.”
Then leaving me half dazed, he went hurriedly through the other rooms, gathering quite a number of things, some of which he stuffed in his pockets, and others in an old valise he found in the mill-room.
“Now I guess I’m square,” he said, when he had finished. “Don’t you dare to follow me or give me away, Stone, or it will be the worse for you. I ain’t a man to be trifled with, and don’t you forget it.”
Then he passed out of the door and was gone.
Oh, how I wished that I had a pistol at that moment! I am not a bloodthirsty fellow, but it galled me to see this ruffian walk off with my property.