“Perhaps Bob could do it, but I can’t,” he thought.
Then he fell to wondering what object the men could have in bringing him there. Were they going to hold him for ransom? Or were they merely trying to save themselves from arrest for attempting to burn the bunk house? These questions and many others ran through his mind as he sat there in the darkness listening to the heavy breathing and snoring of the two Frenchmen.
How slowly the time passed. It seemed hours before the first hint of the approaching dawn crept in at the windows. The fire in the stove had been out for some time and the room was beginning to grow cold. He had tried to sleep, but his position in the chair was too uncomfortable to permit it and besides his arms were paining him severely due to the strain on them.
Slowly the light grew stronger until finally a beam of sunshine stole in at the east window, telling him that the weather had cleared. He knew that it must be nearly eight o’clock, but the two men gave no sign of waking. He was now thoroughly chilled through, and his arms ached as he had never believed it possible for arms to ache. Would they never wake and set him free? Another hour passed and still another. The pain was rapidly becoming unbearable and he had about made up his mind to shout, regardless of consequences, when he heard one of them stir. A loud yawn followed, and a moment later Pierre crawled out of the lower bunk. He stretched himself and came over to where Jack was sitting.
“You cold?” he asked with a broad grin.
“Rather,” Jack replied.
“Dat’s all right. I untie you, you mak’ fire queek,” and a moment later the boy was beating his arms about his body to restore the arrested circulation.
By the time he had the fire roaring up the chimney the other man was up, and soon the two sat down to breakfast. As before, Jack was forced to wait until they had finished, then he was told that he could go to it. He went without hesitation. The food was good and there was plenty of it and he made a hearty meal.
“They don’t intend to starve me at any rate,” he thought as he swallowed the last mouthful.
“Now you wash up and then you can sleep you want to,” Pierre growled as he got out the pack of cards.