Twenty minutes passed. They passed slowly for Robert, but they also passed slowly for his besieger, who was in a hurry to get possession of the boy's money, and feared some one might come along to whom he could appeal for help. If he had known that Robert had twenty dollars in his pocket his eagerness would have increased.
"Are you coming down?" he demanded, looking up in the tree fiercely.
"When you are gone away," answered the boy, composedly.
"If you wait much longer I'll murder you when you do come down. You may think I won't do it, but I'm savage enough to do anything."
"I don't doubt it at all," said our hero.
"I might tell you of how I've served other persons who trifled with me."
"Do!" replied Robert. "It'll take up the time."
"No," answered the tramp, suspiciously. "I don't care to have you inform against me, but I want you to remember that I am a desperate man."
"I'll take it for granted. I don't want to fall into the hands of such a man."