“That won't do,” said Jack, “as he might give a yell as he goes down. Better drop him with a club, and then he 'll be senseless the moment it hits him and will stay so long enough for us to get away, and there 'll be no danger of his hollering.”
Harry did not altogether like the idea of the club, but he realized that it was a case of self-preservation, and the treatment was no worse than what Mr. Billy would be ready to apply to them without the least compunction. So he assented to Jack's proposal, and the two armed themselves with clubs, which were conveniently furnished by the spokes of a crushed wheel of the cart.
“I reckon them strange horse shad better be a little further off,” said Billy to himself, “and then there won't be so much furse.”
Suiting the action to his thought, he proceeded to separate the old from the new, and while he was occupied with this prudential duty Harry and Jack crept up behind him and, at an opportune moment, felled him with a blow from one of the cart-spokes. He went down without a sound; in less than a minute a handkerchief had been tied across his mouth, in which a corncob was inserted as a gag, his hands were securely fastened behind him, and his feet were tied together. He was not likely to give an alarm, no matter how soon he revived.
Harry and Jack then took possession of the seven horses, mounting their own and leading the other five. Harry took charge of three, and left the other two to Jack. They went at a walk down the lane which the girl had indicated, and on reaching the high-road quickened their pace as much as the led horses would permit.
“It was very kind of them to saddle our horses for us,” said Jack, “and to save us any trouble about it.”
“Yes,” replied Harry, “and I'd give one of their saddles to hear their remarks when they find we're not in the house, and come outside and see the way that Billy is waiting for them.”
“I'm afraid their remarks will not be of a Sunday-school character,” was Jack's answer, “nor very respectful to us.”