"If he finds you here and cuts up rough, mind I warned you," blustered Joe. "These men will bear me out."
Neither the thought of her father's anger, nor anything else, could deter Kitty now. She worked desperately at the knots.
"Go back, Kitty," whispered Ralph between his pale lips. "You can't do any good!"
"Oh, my dear!" murmured Kitty on the passionately solicitous note of a mother to her hurt child.
"Campbell, take her away from there!" ordered Joe.
The long-haired nondescript grinning witlessly pinned Kitty's elbows to her sides from behind, and drew her away from the tree. She was helpless. Her eyes flashed.
"I'm not afraid of you—any of you!" she cried.
"You get this matter wrong, Miss," said Joe, with an offensive servility. "This fellow did us an injury. He is our rightful prisoner. But I don't want to be hard on him. I offered him his release on fair terms. If he don't take 'em, 'tain't my fault, is it?"
"Tell this man to take his hands off me, and I'll speak to you," said Kitty indignantly.
At a nod from Joe, Crusoe released her.