The intruder was a strong and bronzed fellow, who might easily have held two of the scouts out from him could he have gotten his hands on them; but then a boy in possession of a gun is as much to be respected as though he measured up to the full stature of manhood, and evidently the fellow appreciated this fact.
Still he did look disgusted as he proceeded with rather ill grace to do as Rob had ordered. It was almost comical to see his huge figure sprawled out there on the floor, with fat Tubby seated on his legs, and endeavoring to do a neat job with the rope-end. Rob was watching to make sure that there was no bungling; he did not believe in poor workmanship.
“Cross his hands so, Tubby, with the wrists together,” he directed. “Now begin to wrap the rope around—draw it fairly tight. We don’t want him getting loose on us, you understand. When Uncle George comes back from the Tucker Pond he’ll know what he wants to do with a thief!”
There was a loud growl from the man whose face rested sideways against the floor.
“Hold on, thar, kid,” he said savagely, “you don’t want to be so free applying such langwidge as that, ’ca’se it cuts to the bone. I may have been a fool to turn on Mr. Hopkins, and act stubborn-like, but I’m no thief! Mebbe onct in a while in times gone by I’ve shot deer out o’ season, and busted the game laws, but I never in my life did take anything as belonged to anybody else, never, so help me.”
Rob did not say anything until Tubby had finally completed his job, puffing over it as though the effort required every atom of breath he could command.
“Now, Tubby, help me get him over here, where he can rest against the wall,” Rob said. “I know it’s going to be mighty uncomfortable for him, fastened up this way, but nobody’s to blame but himself.”
“Huh, guess that’s correct, younker!” grunted the man. “I sartin sure did make a fool o’ myself, and I oughtn’t to grumble if I have to pay up for it. But I’m plumb up against it now, seems like.”
“Then you are Zeb Crooks?” asked Rob.
“Yep, that’s who I am,” came the unhesitating reply.