"Nay, nay!" cracked Tubal Ammon, shaking his head until the leaves around it fairly danced. "I dare not."
"And why not?"
"Because methinks that you would hold me prisoner and deliver me to justice."
"Nay, have no fear of that. You are not worth the trouble. Come, then, and tell my father what you have told me. No harm will come of it. You shall go free. You have my word for that."
"I will consider it," said Tubal Ammon, and with that disappeared behind the leaves.
As I stood listening a gentle click came from the tree.
"What are you doing there?" I shouted.
"Wrestling with my thoughts," came back the high-pitched answer.
"Or reloading--which?" I asked. "If 'tis the latter, save yourself the trouble, for, look you, I am safe from bullets."
With that I slipped behind a tree-trunk, and for wellnigh a minute there was silence. Then out popped Ammon's shaven head again.