Mr. Norton tried to force me forward; but I refused to budge, and finally sat down on a rock.
“Now what are you going to do?” asked Avery, who I really believe was inclined to laugh at the whole scene. “Rather rough when an uncle can’t manage his own nephew.”
And both he and Yates let off a loud laugh.
“It’s no laughing matter,” growled Mr. Norton. “This boy knows altogether too much. If we got caught, he could place us in a fine box.”
“Well, as he won’t go along, suppose we leave him here,” said Yates.
“What do you mean?”
“Let us tie him up to one of the trees. Before he can manage to get away, we’ll be out of the district.”
“But he may not be able to get away at all if we bind him too fast,” suggested Avery. “Then he would starve to death.”
“That wouldn’t harm much,” said Mr. Norton. “It’s a good idea,” he went on. “Any rope in the crowd?”