"Why are you up there?"
"Because the gentleman below insists upon my giving him my money, and I have a use for it myself."
"Ha!" said Hercules, eying the besieging force narrowly. "Well, he looks like a thief and a scoundrel."
Meantime, as may readily be imagined, the tramp had been busily scanning him. Now the appearance of Hercules was very deceptive. He was not a man of large, powerful frame—indeed he did not look as strong as the tramp; but his sinews were of iron and his muscles were immense, but these were concealed by his clothing. Only in the ring, when he performed his feats of strength, were they displayed to advantage. The tramp was not a classical scholar, or the name Hercules might have told him something. As it were he really thought himself the more powerful man of the two, and it came into his mind that he might as well enlarge his schemes of plunder and force this new acquaintance to pay tribute as well as the boy whom he was besieging.
"You call me a thief and a scoundrel, do you?" he said, flaming up in fierce wrath.
"Yes, I do," returned Hercules, eying him coolly.
"How dare you do it?"
"Why shouldn't I?" said Hercules, contemptuously. "Didn't you mean to rob this boy if I hadn't come along?"
"I will do it yet, but I have business with you first."