Tony hurried on to the village, where he lost no time in arousing a sufficient number to effect the capture of the burglar. He no longer felt any compunction in turning against his quondam guardian.
I owe him nothing,” thought Tony. “What has he ever done for me? He is not my father. Probably he kidnaped me from my real home, and has made me an outcast and a tramp like himself.”
Meanwhile Rudolph was not idle.
It may be thought strange that he should have so much
difficulty in freeing himself from the cords with which Tony had bound him. But it must be remembered that the boy had done his work well.
After he had been locked in, Rudolph set to work energetically to obtain release. He succeeded in raising himself to his feet, but as his ankles were tied together, this did not do him much good. He tried to break the cords; but the only result was to chafe his wrists.
What a fool I am!” he exclaimed, at length. “The old man must have some table knives about somewhere. With these I can cut the cords.”
When found, they proved so dull that even if he had had free use of one of his hands, it would not have been found easy to make them of service. But when added to this was the embarrassment of his fettered hands, it will not excite surprise that it required a long time to sever the tough cords which bound him. But success came at length.
Now for revenge!” thought the tramp. “The boy shall rue this night’s task, or my name is not Rudolph.”
But, angry as he was, and thirsting as he did for vengeance, he did not forget the object which had drawn him thither. Whatever else he might do, he must secure the miser’s gold.