During this time Phil had been drinking and smoking, with the result that he could hardly speak plainly when the task was accomplished, and so intoxicated did he appear to be that Sam thought it safe to eat the food he had concealed.
"Keep on talkin' so's I'll know where you are, or on goes the ropes an' gag again," Phil cried, and the boy obeyed, repeating over and over the same words in order to satisfy his suspicious captor.
After eating a hearty meal, Sam succeeded in mustering sufficient courage to admit of his thinking about attempting to escape.
From the manner in which the burglar spoke he knew it could not be very much longer before the man would be so completely under the influence of liquor as to render him helpless, and he said to himself:
"If I could get the rope around his hands an' legs I'd soon be out of this place."
"What's that you are saying?" Phil cried, angrily.
"Nothin'; I was only doin' as you told me, talkin' so's you'd know where I was."
"I'll save all that trouble," and the man lurched to his feet as he picked up the rope.
"Please don't tie me ag'in," Sam pleaded. "I won't try to git away."
"I'll go bail that you don't after I'm through with you. Put out your hands."