"You are a disgrace to the name of Burns. If I spare your life will you leave this neighborhood and never come back?"
"Yes, yes," answered the tramp, earnestly.
"You'd better keep that promise. If I ever catch sight of you again, I'll shoot with out asking you any questions. Now get!"
Tom Burns got up and started away with celerity. He thought it wise to put as great a distance as possible between himself and the tall and stalwart hunter, fearing that he would repent his leniency and end his life by a stray bullet.
"I'll scare him a little," said Luke.
He fired after the fugitive, taking care not to hit him, however. Tom Burns heard the bullet whistling by his head, and with a cry of terror increased his speed till he reached a place where he felt secure. Then, sinking down on the ground, he uttered an ejaculation of relief.
"That is a terrible man!" he panted. "He'd as soon take my life as not. I won't get in his way again if I can help it."
Luke Robbins laughed.
"That is my parting message," he said. "Well, Ernest, where do you want to go? What are your plans?"
"I don't know," answered Ernest, gravely. "I am not sure that I have any plans. I feel upset completely."