“What do you want me to do, Hogan?”
“Stop the horse, and I’ll attend to the passengers.”
By direction of Perkins, Andy drove a little slower when he came to the lonely part of the road.
“We’ll give the gentleman a chance to stop us, my boy,” said the detective.
The slow speed satisfied Hogan and his companion that Andy did not apprehend any attack, and that he would be all the more surprised and disconcerted when confronted by them.
According to the plan they had agreed upon, Bill jumped from the covert, and, dashing across the road, seized the horse by the head, while Mike Hogan, big and burly, with a menacing air, approached the wagon.
“Do you know me, young bantam?” he demanded, grimly.
“I think I’ve seen you before,” said Andy, not seeming so much frightened as the thief expected.
“Yes, curse you! and I’ve seen you. You played a scurvy trick upon me Saturday night.”
“I couldn’t help it,” said Andy. “I didn’t want to hurt you, but you drove me to it.”