“Give ’em a licking and no supper,” added Jackson.
“I don’t think you’ll have to whip ’em,” came from Joe Booster, who did not believe in violence of any sort. “Just let ’em go without their supper, and their breakfast to-morrow morning. Maybe then they’ll sing a different tune.”
“I owe ’em a licking for all the things they’ve done against me,” growled Davenport.
“Never mind. It will be enough after we get hold of that money,” returned Booster. “Just cut ’em off from the eats. That’s the way you can bring anybody to terms. I’ve tried it before, and I know.”
“All right then,” said the oil man shortly. And then he and his cronies left the cave.
“Well, they’re a nice bunch, I don’t think!” came from Andy, when the four boys found themselves alone.
“Going to starve us, eh?” muttered Fred. “Do you think they’ll dare do it?”
“It looks to me as if they’d dare to do anything,” came from Jack. “Gee, it’s too bad we didn’t make our escape when we had the chance.”
Randy looked toward the entrance of the cave to make certain that all of the men had departed.
“Let’s try to get away again to-night,” he whispered. “It’s our one hope.”