“What do you mean, you young outlaw?” repeated the man, his voice trembling in spite of all his efforts to control it.
“I mean that I am not going to allow myself to be taken on board a flatboat and pushed overboard,” replied Julian, calmly; and seeing that the empty rifle proved so valuable an assistant, he resolutely kept it pointed toward the stranger’s breast.
“Turn that weapon away!” cried Mr. Mortimer, after shifting his position a dozen times to get out of range of the deadly muzzle. “I will have you arrested the first thing in the morning.”
“Very good,” answered Julian. “Then perhaps you will be called upon to show by what authority you took me away from my home and brought me here, and why you want me drowned in the river.”
“I am your guardian, I tell you.”
“I suppose I am at liberty to do as I please about believing that, am I not? But admitting that you are, it does not give you the right to abuse me, does it? Who made you my guardian?”
Before Mr. Mortimer could answer this question the door of the cabin opened, and Jack Bowles appeared on the threshold, and stood looking out into the darkness. Julian’s guardian, if such he was, was about to call out to him, but checked the words that arose to his lips when he saw the muzzle of the rifle looking straight into his face.
“Don’t speak above your breath,” said the boy, in low, earnest tones. “I have just one more word to say to you, and then I am off. I suppose you think I am the only one about here who has enemies, do you not? Well, you are mistaken. Your life is in danger, if you only knew it.”
“My life!” repeated Mr. Mortimer, as soon as he could speak. “From whom?”
“Jack Bowles. He is bound to have money, and he don’t care how he gets it. As he and his boys have failed in their attempts to rob me, and since he is likely to lose what you offered to pay him if he would accompany you to New Orleans, he has determined to rob you to-night. I heard him say so. If you go to sleep you will never see the sun rise again. This is one act of kindness I have been able to do you in return for the evil you have done me. Good night.”