They had gone about half a mile when from the bushes by the roadside Rudolph emerged. He had seen the hat, and felt sure that Tony was trying to escape him in this way.
"Well," said Abner, with a grin, as he recognized his midnight foe, "how do you feel this morning?"
"None the better for you, curse you!" returned the tramp, roughly.
Abner laughed.
"That's what I thought," he said, cracking his whip.
Rudolph would like to have punished him then and there for his humiliation of the night before, but Abner looked too powerful as he strode along manfully with vigorous steps. Besides, he had a heavy whip in his hand, which the tramp suspected would be used unhesitatingly if there were occasion. The prospect was not inviting. But, at any rate, Rudolph could demand that Tony be remitted to his custody.
"Where's my boy?" asked the tramp, keeping at a safe distance.
"Didn't know you had a boy," said Abner.
"I mean that villain Tony. Is that he on the load of hay?"
"Kinder looks like him," answered Abner, grinning.