He advanced towards Robert in a menacing manner, and our hero, who had been looking about him, jumped aside nimbly, and seizing the branch of a tree swung himself up into the branches, before his companion clearly understood his intention.
"Oh, that's your game, is it?" he said, angrily. "It won't do!"
He darted forward, but Robert bad been too quick for him, and was already out of reach. He was light and agile by nature, and his training in the ring had helped to make him more so.
"So you think you've escaped me, do you?" he demanded with an oath.
Robert did not answer, but looked calmly down upon him from the tree.
"Come down at once!"
"Thank you; I'd rather stay here," said our hero calmly.
Without a word the tramp made an effort to follow Robert up the tree.