Dazed and overwhelmed at the prospect before him, Mr. Benton followed the officer back to the house.
"See here," he said, as they reached the threshold and a sudden hope came to him, "can't I settle this with the boys? I don't want to go to jail. I've no one to look out for things, it's a'most hayin' time, and I want to be here to home. I'll take the boats right back, if ye say so."
"You will have to see the lads for yourself," said Mr. Avery, shortly.
"Can't you take me where they are an' let me talk it over with them?" he asked, eagerly.
"Yes, if you will pay for it," consented Mr. Avery. "My orders were to arrest you and carry you to jail, and that is all the law will allow me to collect fees for; but if you will pay me for my time, I'm willing to ride around with you all day."
"How much will ye charge?" asked Mr. Benton, cautiously.
"Thirty cents an hour," said the officer, looking at his watch.
It was a hard thing for the grasping man to do, but he finally consented; and taking him into his buggy, Mr. Avery drove off in search of the boys.
Judd was found in the village, but would consent to no settlement until his partner was found. There was little prospect of finding Budd until he returned from his peddling trip, and Mr. Benton groaned more and more as the hours ran by and he knew it was adding to the amount he should have to pay the officer. But he soon found that amount was but a trifle compared with what he should have to pay before the young firm consented to his release.
About two o'clock Budd came back to the village, where he had agreed to meet Judd in anticipation of the very event for which his presence was now desired. The lads had time to talk the matter over before they saw Mr. Benton, and when he appeared they were ready to state their terms.