“Come down from that fence,” said Campbell in a commanding tone, “and give yourself up as our prisoner. If you refuse, or if you stoop to raise that pistol, I will shoot you through the head.”
There was a stern resoluteness in his tone which convinced the ruffian that he was in earnest.
“What do you want with me?” he asked doggedly.
“What should we want with such as you? To give you up to the authorities. It is not safe for such men to be at large.”
“Let me go,” pleaded the burglar abruptly. “I have taken nothing.”
“You intended to.”
“But I have not, and I will not—from you. I will agree to leave the city and never return.”
“You cannot be trusted,” said the Scotchman promptly. “We can make no conditions with you.”
“You may repent this,” the ruffian growled.
“I should repent letting you go, but I sha’n’t leave any chance of that. Are you coming down?”