The villain hesitated, but fear prevailed, and springing to his feet, he hastily made off under cover of the darkness.
“I hope you have received no injury,” said Timothy, respectfully, turning towards the stranger he had rescued.
“No, my worthy friend, thanks to your timely assistance. The rascal nearly succeeded, however.”
“I hope you have lost nothing, sir.”
“Nothing, fortunately. You can form an idea of the value of your interference, when I say that I have fifteen hundred dollars with me, all of which I should undoubtedly have lost.”
“I am glad,” said the cooper, “that I was able to do you such essential service. It was by the merest chance that I came this way.”
“Will you add to my indebtedness by accompanying me with that trusty club of yours? I have some little distance yet to go, and the amount of money I have with me makes me feel desirous of taking every possible precaution.”
“Willingly,” said the cooper.
“But I am forgetting,” said the gentleman, “that you yourself will be obliged to return alone.”
“I do not carry enough money to make me fear an attack,” said Mr. Crump, laughing. “Money brings care I have always heard, and now I realize it.”