"Well, then, father will know that something has happened to me, and he will begin searching the island. He'll find you, you may depend upon that; and, when he gets hold of you, he'll put you where you won't rob any more potato-patches. Where do you fellows belong, anyhow? What are you staying here for, and what are you going to do with me?"
The governor made no reply to these questions, for something his prisoner had said excited a serious train of reflections in his mind. The events of the last five minutes had sadly interfered with his arrangements. His harboring place was broken up now, and by daylight the island would be too hot to hold him. What should he do? That was a question he could not answer at once; he must have time to think it over. At a sign from him Atkins and Friday crossed the chasm; but, when he ordered Jed to follow, he declined to move.
"What shall I go over there for?" he demanded.
"'Cause it's our orders. We're goin' to keep you here for awhile."
"Well, I swan to man!" said Jed.
"If we should let you go, you might tell on us, you know. Come, ketch hold of the rope an' go on."
"Well—no; I guess I won't go of my own free will. If you want me over there you must put me over."
"All right," replied the governor, pulling out his knife and cutting off a piece of the rope; "we're just the fellers that can do it. Come back here, men. Now," he added, when Atkins and Friday had recrossed the chasm, "all hands pitch in, and tie him, hand and foot."
The Crusoe men knew, by Jed's looks, that he was all muscle and pluck, and consequently they were not surprised at his stubborn resistance. They "pitched in" with alacrity, and one of them did something that Sam had not calculated on—he "pitched out" again, directly. It was Tom Newcombe, who, the instant he laid his hand on the prisoner's collar, was seized around the body and thrown heavily on the rocks. He gathered himself up as quickly as possible, drew down the corners of his mouth, rubbed his elbow, and stood off at a safe distance and looked on. Will Atkins received a back-handed blow over his eye that caused him to see a million of stars; but, as he had more pluck than Tom, and was anxious to restore himself to the governor's favor, he merely stopped long enough to say, "Jerusalem!" and then "pitched in" harder than ever. Of course; Jed was conquered; but it was only after a protracted struggle.
"Now we're all right," exclaimed the governor, assisting his prisoner to his feet and pulling him toward the edge of the chasm, "an' I reckon you'll go over, won't you? Atkins, you and Friday go across ag'in an' stand by to ketch him. Xury," he continued, when this order has been obeyed, "pass the rope under his arms an' make it fast, while me an' the cap'n hold him."