CHAPTER XVI.
IN WHICH ERNEST MAKES A LANDING ON THE HUDSON.
TOM THORNTON was no fool, and it was easy enough for him to see that I understood the situation. It was useless for him to tell me that any tenderness on the part of my uncle saved me from arrest, for the son would have crushed me like a worm beneath his feet in spite of the father. I think he got up and left me because he could not control his temper, and feared a scene. He cooled off in a few moments, and came back, as I knew he would.
"You defy me to arrest you—do you, Ernest?" said he, dropping into the seat at my side.
"Yes; if you wish to put it in that form, I defy you to arrest me. I repeat that I should be very glad to have you do it."
"Why so?" asked he, nervously.
"It would give me a chance to defend myself, and that is just what I want, now I have the means to do so."
"You have some queer conceits, young man," sneered he. "What have you done with that girl?"
"She is safe."