Rob thought it good policy for him to withdraw from the company, but he had not taken half a dozen steps before the ’squire thundered to him:
“You stop where you are, Rob Bayne. We are going up to your place as soon as the sheriff gets here, and we want you to go with us.”
“What errand can you have to our home, sir?” demanded Little Hickory, with flashing eyes, having recovered his usual self-possession.
“Your stupid head is thicker than I thought for, if you do not know already. If you do not know it may save you a short time of the bitter dose you are going to take. Here comes Stanyan, and there is no need to delay longer.”
The sheriff was indeed driving up to the place, and the ’squire immediately ordered his team brought in front of the store.
“Here is the chip-of-the-old-block Bayne,” declared Hardy, waving his hand toward Rob. “I thought it would be a good thing to take him right along.”
“A capital idea,” replied the officer. “Jump in here with me, young man, and, mind you, no monkeying about this!”
Rob’s first thought was to refuse to go, but, fortunately, a wiser thought decided him, and he entered the sheriff’s wagon, saying:
“I do not understand what you want of me, but I am willing to go, for I have done no wrong.”
“That remains to be seen,” retorted the officer, sharply, and a moment later he started in the direction of Break o’ Day, with the ’squire close behind him, while as many as a dozen teams followed the latter.