"Because of his own words and threats to me the next morning," responded Budd; and he rapidly described the altercation that then occurred.
"I immediately left the city," he went on, "and did not see Bagsley again until a week ago last Saturday evening. But meanwhile he left your employ."
"Yes," assented Mr. Johnson, "he was thoroughly incompetent for his duties; and, then"--he hesitated a moment, but eventually finished his sentence--"and, then, I felt I could not trust him."
"Your fears were well grounded," said Budd, with a little secret exultation over Mr. Johnson's admission.
Then he described the visit of Bagsley and his two companions to Fox Island, and the statements and declarations he and his partner had overheard.
"It was this visit to our island, Mr. Johnson, that sent me over to your island last Wednesday, when I was so unfortunate as to place myself in your hands and be arrested as the party who had robbed your house," he added.
"That does nicely for a story," replied Mr. Johnson, incredulously; "but if true, why didn't you at once tell me, or make it known at least at your trial? It looks altogether like an ingenious attempt on your and your partner's part to get me to withdraw my charge against you."
Budd laughed.
"I admit it, sir," he said; "but if you remember, I did beg you to hear my story, and had you consented I should have told you all this at that time. In the court I did not wish to tell it, for I had another purpose in mind;" and he rapidly explained to Mr. Johnson what he hoped to achieve from Bagsley's arrest, and that he was fearful, if he had disclosed what he did know about his enemy and his gang at the time of his own trial, it would have been premature and would have thwarted his purpose.
Mr. Johnson listened respectfully, but at the close of Budd's lengthy explanation declared he was not yet convinced of the truth of the lad's statements.