"Well, yes," assented the farmer. "Ye see, Budd owes me, an' I thought I'd take his sloop until he paid me."
"But running off in the night with another person's property is not a legal way to collect one's debts," said the officer, dryly, "and I am obliged to arrest you for stealing those boats. You will hardly deny the theft now, since your own confession;" and the officer took out his warrant.
Mr. Benton fairly shook with excitement and rage.
"Me 'rested!" he cried. "Who's dared to do it?"
"I have," remarked the officer, quietly; "and you can come along with me without fuss or I'll put these on you;" and he took a pair of iron bracelets from his pocket.
For the first time comprehending the real situation into which his thoughtless act of the night before had brought him, the man turned pale and stammered out the words:
"But I didn't really mean to keep the boats. I only took them to bring Budd to terms, an' then I was goin' to let him have them ag'in."
"It looks as though you did mean to keep them; you certainly have secured them very thoroughly," responded the officer, significantly. "But as to your real motive, you can settle that with the Court. But I cannot stop here talking with you. Would you like to go to the house and change your clothes before you go with me, Mr. Benton?"
"Go where with you--up to the village?" asked he, quickly.
"No; I've got to take you to the county jail. Your offense, owing to the amount you have taken, is made returnable to the Court of Common Pleas, and that does not sit until September. I shall have to take you to the jail until the time for your trial," explained Mr. Avery.