“Don’t waste any more time with him,” said Bob, who was utterly disgusted at the old man’s obstinacy. “You might as well argue with a pig.”
“But he thinks we are the ones who tried to rob him,” replied Dick.
“I know it; and he will continue to think so, no matter what you say to him.”
“Be you goin’ to clear out, you two?” shouted the old man, in impatient tones. “I’m a’most tired of waitin’ to see the last of you; but I’ll tell you ag’in that this thing ain’t a-goin’ to be dropped here. I won’t have you prowlin’ around my house no more.”
“You need not worry about that,” yelled Bob in reply. “You may be sure that we shall take particular pains to steer clear of you in future.”
“I bet you will! I’ll have you locked up so tight that you won’t never try to break into any other house. Mind that!”
Having no desire to prolong an interview that could bring forth no good result, Dick and Bob made no further effort to induce the angry old man to listen to the explanation they had to offer. They turned about and walked away.
As Mr. Stebbins saw the distance between them and the house increasing, his courage all came back to him, and he began to show more of his precious anatomy above the window-sill, and to shout after them the most abusive words.
Twice he made a movement indicative of a desire to bring his flint-lock to bear on the boys; but, as often as he did so, Dick and Bob dropped their double-barrels into the hollow of their arms, so that the muzzles covered the window, and then the old man would draw himself down out of sight.
In a few minutes the bushes that lined the shore of the lake shut the house out from their view; but it was not until a long time afterward that the yells and maledictions of the half-crazed occupant of the wood-shed ceased to ring in their ears.