“Anyway,” Mose insisted, “I brought you over to this boat and kept the boy from running away before you got here.”
“Now, you’re talking sense,” the outlaw sneered. “Throw him a couple of dollars, Chet,” he added.
The fellow’s companion tossed two silver dollars scornfully down on the deck and turned to Alex.
“You get into the cabin,” he said, “and stay there. We’ll settle with you later on.”
Alex had no idea of remaining on board the Rambler after it had passed into the possession of the outlaws. He knew that the desire for revenge on their part might lead to murder. He had no fear of being turned, over to the officers of the law, for the outlaws were in no position to make charges against others. He stepped into the cabin as requested and closed the door after him.
“Now, Teddy Bear,” he said, “you and I have got to jump away from this darling old boat, and we’ve got to do it right soon.”
Teddy, awakened from a sound sleep, scratched his nose with a soft paw and replied in the most polite of bear talk that he would do whatever Alex thought best.
The men who belonged on the houseboat were by this time off the deck of the Rambler. The outlaws, however, were watching the boy very closely. They laughed when they saw him talking with the bear.
“That’s a cute pet you have there!” one of the men exclaimed, speaking through the broken panel of the door.
“It is indeed,” Alex answered cheerfully. “Teddy Bear is a pretty good friend. We’ve had him a long time.”