It hardly seemed advisable for the three to attempt any reprisals just at this instant.
The alleged collector had with him six other boys, who were evidently friends, and there was little question but that the effort to force him to give up his ill-gotten gains would end disastrously for the smaller party.
“It won’t do to tackle him yet a while,” Bob said, after mentally taking the measurements of the boy and his friends. “We’ll have to wait a spell, ’cause there’s too many of ’em.”
“By holdin’ back we may never get a chance. Jest as likely’s not they’ll stick together till they go home,” Tom replied.
“But you’d he makin’ fools of yourselves to start in now,” Josiah suggested. “Wait till one of them men in the soldier clothes comes along. Then go right up an’ ask for the dime. He won’t dare to keep it.”
This seemed to be a very good idea; and Bob was willing to act upon it provided it would not be necessary to wait too many moments, for time was of more value just then, in his opinion, than the money which had been extorted from Josiah.
Fortunately they were not delayed a great while, for Bob had hardly hidden himself behind a clump of shrubbery, before two of the park guards were seen approaching from either end of the street; and he called Tom’s attention to the fact by saying:—
“Come on! Now’s our time, an’ we don’t want the policemen to hear if we can help it, ’cause they’ll make us stay as witnesses.”
“Go ahead, an’ I’ll stand right at your back. Give it to him good and strong.”
This advice was not necessary, for Bob was so thoroughly in earnest that he had no idea of “giving it” to him in any other way than “strong.”