In happy ignorance of the doctor’s plans, Peter and Dan’l each provided himself with a clothes-prop, and in due time made for the appointed sides of the wall; but no sooner did the boy catch sight of his pursuers than he started off on another all-fours run; but this took him away from the house, and before he had gone far he turned and ran back.
Dan’l whistled, and Peter made a poke at the runner from one side of the wall, while Dan’l made a savage poke from the other.
The boy, who seemed as active as a squirrel, dodged them both, ran along toward the vinery, and as fast as the various trees would allow the two men followed.
Peter was soon out of the race, for a lean-to shed on his side of the wall put a stop to further pursuit, and Dan’l, who looked as malicious as a savage after a wild beast, had the hunt all to himself.
“Ah!” he shouted, as he stopped panting, “now I’ve got you, my fine fellow.”
This was untrue, for he was as far off his quarry as ever, he being at the front of the vinery, and the boy on the top of the wall right at the back of the glass slope.
“Now, then, none o’ yer nonsense, and down yer come.”
Down the boy did not come, for he squatted there at the top, in a sitting position, with his arms round his knees, gazing coolly but watchfully at the gardener.
“D’yer hear? come down!”
The Yankee ’coon in the tree, when he saw the celebrated Colonel Crockett taking aim at him, and in full possession of the hunter’s reputation as a dead shot, is reported to have said, “Don’t shoot; I’ll come down;” and the boy might have said something of the kind to Dan’l Copestake. But he had no faith in the gardener, and it is expecting too much of a boy who is seated in a safe place, to conclude that he will surrender at the first summons, especially to a fierce-looking man, who is armed with a very big stick.