“Not exactly.”
“Then what do you propose to do?”
“Keep along with us till we reach Stilwell. Then we will go before a magistrate. You will make your demand for the weapon, and in his presence I will surrender it.”
“Do you take me for a fool?” thundered the robber.
“No, and I want you to understand that I am not a fool, either.”
“You are acting like a fool and a knave.”
“I should certainly be acting like a fool if I gave up the revolver, and had it immediately pointed at me or my companion, with a demand for our money.”
“But I gave you my word—”
“Of course you did, but I put no confidence in your word.”
While this conversation was going on the poor professor looked on and listened with an expression of helplessness on his broad face. He was essentially a man of peace, and was by no means fitted to deal with a highwayman.