CHAPTER XX
FORCING A CONFESSION
The two tramps were thrown to the ground quickly, and just as quickly were the towel-made ropes wrapped about their arms and legs, trussing them tightly and safely against any further struggles.
Snadder fought hard, much harder than the pudgy, slow, phlegmatic Blinky. Twice the tall fellow tried to bite the boys on the wrists or hands as they worked, and was so savage that Frank gave him a sharp slap in the face with his hand in order to quiet him and to let him know this was not a mere boy’s prank.
The wide open door permitted plenty of light to enter the shack, and when the tramps were lying on the floor of the place they had an opportunity of seeing that reinforcements of considerable quantity had arrived during their absence.
“How do you fellows feel as captives now?” Frank asked them. “We are going to do a little better by you, though, than you did by us. We’ll be more lenient, and when you wish a drink you may have it.”
This reminded the other three boys who had been captives that they were in need of water, and they obtained it very quickly by rushing through the door, grabbing up handfuls of the snow and permitting it to melt in their parched mouths. The excitement was over for a little while.
“Where did Jeek go?” asked Frank, after the tramps had been given some moments to think over the reversal of their situation.
Snadder replied sulkily that he did not know, and if he did know he wouldn’t tell, anyhow.
“That is left entirely to you, Snadder,” Frank took the matter quietly. “We’ll get them, though, and it won’t do you any harm to give us the facts. We just wanted to know how long we had to wait.”
Snadder held his counsel, his expression a decidedly sulky one, angry for a while, but after the boys had stood around on the outside chatting for half an hour Frank noticed that the anger appeared to have left the tall fellow. As for Blinky, his expression was simply that of one who takes things as easily as he can, tries to accept bad luck as bad luck, a thing he had spent most of his life having.