"The sight of those welts is enough for me," said Jerry, "and I'm going to make my dad promise to befriend the poor chap. He never had any use for that red-faced Cal Dobson, anyway. Once they had a lawsuit over something, and the farmer got the better of it, I'm sorry to say, so I reckon dad'll be glad of a chance to turn the tables on the old fellow and show him up."
"And I'll influence my father to see that Jed is placed in a home where they'll be kinder to him. A boy is only a slave with that big bully. I saw him once, and he was threatening a parcel of little town girls from the factory section. Perhaps they had been annoying him by stealing fruit, or something like that, but he was talking to them like they were the worst criminals," declared Frank.
"He always swore he would be the death of me if I didn't move faster. I was so weak I just couldn't. And then I run away three days ago," said the boy.
"Say, wouldn't I like to see the old fellow just now! He must be as mad as a hornet," laughed Will.
The boy shuddered.
"Oh! I hope he won't come here till I'm gone," he said, his face taking on its old expression of abject fear.
Frank did not like to see him give way after this manner. At the same time he knew that the lad had been browbeaten all his young life, and what little spirit he may have inherited must have been about crushed.
"You must have faith in us, Jed. I give you my word that if he appeared right now we would not let him take you away," he said.
"No," declared Bluff. "He could threaten and bluster all he wanted, so long as I had my eye on him along this trusty barrel he wouldn't dare."
"Listen! I thought I heard voices!" said Will just then.