I was soon past the place where I had met my first foe. To my imagination it was like a tale I had heard of a superstitious person’s passing a place haunted by a ghost. My eyes were on the alert. At any second I expected a fresh attack. I thought I heard a low groan. I let the thought pass as though it were the promptings of fear. Then I heard it again and with it some words that I could not understand. I looked about and there to my amazement I saw the fellow who had first threatened me with his back to a tree. A strong cord held his wrists tied together, while another wrapped around his body held him firmly fastened against the trunk.
At the sight of me he cleared his throat.
“Come here!” he commanded.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Will you loose these bonds?” he said.
“I know when I’m safe,” I replied. “I’ll do nothing of the kind.”
He growled something under his breath.
“If you do,” he went on half coaxingly and half in a threat, “I’ll tell you a story that’s worth while.”
“You’ve told me enough already,” said I, and started on my way.
But he was insistent.