They had come quite near the ruined dwelling, and already the curb of the well was visible.
"Is that the well?" asked Tony.
"Yes," answered the Quaker.
"Let us hurry, then," said Tony.
But the time had come when Tony was to have revealed to him the real character of his companion. A branch, which hung unusually low, knocked off the hat and wig of the pseudo Quaker, and Tony was petrified with dismay when he saw revealed the black, cropped head and sinister face of Rudolph, the tramp.
"Rudolph!" he exclaimed, stopping short in his amazement.
"Yes," said the tramp, avowing himself, now that he saw disguise was useless; "it's Rudolph. At last I have you, you young scamp!" and he seized the boy's arm as in the grip of a vise.
Tony tried to shake off the grip, but what could a boy do against an athletic man.
"It's no use," said the tramp, between his teeth, "I've got you, and I don't mean to let you go."
"What do you mean to do, Rudolph?" asked Tony, uneasily.