"How long has this child been here?" he asked.
"Three or four days."
"I am going to take him away," proceeded Jasper, fixing his eyes earnestly upon the woman, to see how she took the proposal.
"No, no!" she exclaimed, quickly. "My husband won't allow it."
"He won't know it."
"It won't do," she continued, rapidly. "He would kill you if he overtook you."
This was a serious consideration, truly. Jasper had no weapons, and a boy of his age would have been a poor match for a strong man, as the kidnapper probably was.
"After all, I had better not interfere," he thought. "It can do no good, and will only expose me to great danger."
But just at this instant the little boy's soft hand slid into his, and he could not resist the touching appeal for his protection.
"I shall take the risk," he said. "I can't leave the boy here. I will try to find his parents and restore him to them."