"I wouldn't keep him from you for a minute," said Abner, innocently.
"You are doing it now."
"No, I ain't."
"I can't get at him on that hay."
"He can come down if he wants to. I don't stop him. You can come down if you want to, Tony," he said, looking up to where the boy's hat was visible.
Tony did not answer, and Abner continued:
"You see he don't want to come. He'd rather ride. You know he's been sick," said Abner, with a grin, "and he's too delicate to walk. He ain't tough, like you and me."
"He'll need to be tough," muttered the tramp, as he thought of the flogging he intended to give Tony.
"What did you say?"