"Oh, you're mighty innocent, you are! You're aidin' and abettin' Kit Watson to escape from me, his lawful master."
"I have no master, Mr. Bickford," said Kit, proudly.
"Well, that's what they used to call 'em when I was a boy. Boys weren't so pert and impudent in them days."
Meanwhile the blacksmith was recrossing the fence.
Kit and William took the opportunity to run, and by the time Mr. Bickford was again on the roadside they were several rods away.
This naturally exasperated the blacksmith, who felt mortified at his failure to overtake the youngsters. A new idea occurred to him.
"You, Bill, do you want to earn a dime?" he asked.
"How?" inquired William.
"Just help me catch that boy Kit, and I'll give you ten cents."
"I don't care to earn money that way, Mr. Bickford," responded William, scornfully.