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"Somebody may come along and make trouble for us." "Right ye are," answered Stumpy Nuggs. "Don't let's stay here anudder minit." With Baxter on one side of him, Nuggs on the other, and Longback bringing up the rear, Tom was forced to march along. Once he resisted, and received a punch in the side that took nearly all of the wind out of him.
Some of the softening stuff was smeared on the wood which was burning, and this made the blaze more fierce than ever. Soon the tar was near to the boiling point. The two tramps had thrown themselves down to watch the proceedings. "Yer ought ter have some fedders," suggested Longback. "I have. There was an old musty feather bed in the house. I'm going to use that."
"Lay still, or you'll catch it worse," growled Nuggs. "Where's dat rope, Longback?" A rope had been brought along, and it was quickly produced, and then Tom was rolled over and his hands were bound behind him. His legs were also bound together in such a fashion that he might walk but not run. "Now get up," ordered Dan Baxter, with a wicked scowl. Not caring to remain on the ground, Tom did so.
"I want you two men to help me lay a boy out," answered Dan Baxter, feeling that there was no use in mincing matters, for he knew that the tramps were a bad crowd. "Lay a boy out?" repeated the second tramp, who was called Longback. "Yes, he is an enemy of mine, and just passed on the road yonder. If you will help me thrash him and make him a prisoner, I'll give you each five dollars."
He is this boy's father's tool, and both of them are now in jail in Albany for robbery." "Wot!" cried Nuggs, in astonishment. He turned to the other tramp. "Longback, I reckon we have struck an odd crowd, hey?" "Dat's wot," answered Longback. "But say, we didn't go through de young gent's pockets yet." "Wait until we are off the road," interrupted Dan Baxter.
Stumpy Nuggs carried matches, and quickly lit a bit of candle which he produced from one of the pockets of his ragged attire. They entered the dwelling, forcing Tom to accompany them. This done they tied the young cadet fast to an iron ring set in the huge old fashion fireplace. "Now we'll turn out his pockets," said Longback, and this was quickly done.
"You rascal, let Tom alone!" came in Dick Rover's voice, and he rushed in and threw the bully headlong. "Dick! Sam!" came from Tom joyfully. "Oh, how glad I am that you have come." "Wot's dis!" gasped Stumpy Nuggs. "Longback, dare's trouble ahead!" "Yes, an' I don't intend ter be in it!" answered the second tramp. "I reckon we've got about all we want out of dis crowd, anyway!"
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