“It’s time you let us go,” answered Joe. He understood perfectly well what the fellow was after.
He had scarcely spoken when Muley stepped forward and grabbed the watch chain. The watch came with it, and despite Joe’s clutch for his property it was quickly transferred to the tramp’s possession.
“Give me that watch!”
“They are nothing but robbers!” burst out Harry. “Joe, let us get out right away!”
Unable to pass the tramp at the doorway, Harry made for one of the barn windows, and feeling it would be useless to argue just then about the timepiece, Joe followed his brother.
“Hi, stop ’em!” roared Stump. “Don’t let ’em get away!”
Instantly all three of the tramps went after the two lads. Muley was the quickest of the number and in a trice he had placed himself in front of the window.
“Not so fast!” he sang out. “We want what you have in your pockets first!”
Cut off from escape by the window, the two boys turned around. They now saw that the doorway was unguarded, and ran for the opening with all speed. Harry reached the door first and tumbled it aside, and both ran into the open.
“Stop!” yelled Noxy. “Stop, or we’ll fix ye!” And then, his foot catching in a loose board of the flooring, he pitched headlong, and Stump and Muley came down on top of him.