“If you don't come down, I shall come up there after you,” said Mr. Linn.
“You can't catch me, if you do,” said Rodolphus.
Mr. Linn began to ascend the rocks. Rodolphus, however, who was, of course, more nimble than his father, went on faster than his father could follow. He passed over the highest portion, of the hill, and then clambered down upon the other side, to the road. He crossed the road, and then began climbing down the bank, toward the shore. He had often been up and down that path before, and he accordingly descended very quick and very easily.
When he reached the shore, he went out to the flat rock, and there stopped and turned round to look at his father. Mr. Linn was standing on the brink of the cliff, preparing to come down.
“Stop,” said Rodolphus to his father. “If you come down, I will throw the quarter of a dollar into the water.”
So saying, Rodolphus extended his hand as if he were about to throw the money off, into the stream.
The Pursuit.
Mrs. Linn and Annie had come out from the house, to see how Mr. Linn's pursuit of the fugitive would end; but instead of following Rodolphus and his father over the rocks, they had come across the road to the little gate, where they could see the flat rock on which Rodolphus was standing, and his father on the cliffs above. Mrs. Linn stood in the gateway. Annie had come forward, and was standing in the path, at the head of the steps. When she saw Rodolphus threatening to throw the money into the river, she seemed very much concerned and distressed. She called out to her brother, in a very earnest manner.
“Rodolphus! Rodolphus! That is my father's quarter of a dollar. You must not throw it away.”