Part 23 (1/2)
By this tih startled and dazed, was on his feet, and preparing to h quite as strong, and possibly stronger than Obed Stackpole, he had now to encounter a foe by no means to be despised Moreover, he had laid down his knotted stick, and Obed had secured it It was a formidable weapon, and Mr Stackpole was quite ready to make use of it
”Give me my stick!” shouted the tramp hoarsely
”I mean to,” responded the Yankee coolly ”Where will you have it?”
He stepped back warily, as the other advanced, holding the stick in a strong grasp, while he kept his eyes steadily fixed on his opponent He was cool, but his enee made him incautious
He made a desperate clutch at the stick, but with a powerful sweep Obed struck him on the side of the head, and he fell like an ox, stunned and insensible
”That settles you, ht it upon yourself, and you've got no one else to blame Watch him, Harry, to see that he doesn't come to hi cord from his pockets, and secured the wrists of the prostrate eneether
”Will you tie his feet, too?” asked Jack
”No, it is not necessary He can't do any harm now I came in the nick of time, boys, didn't I?”
”Indeed you did!” said Harry earnestly ”He was beginning to choke iven him a meal, but he wanted to make off with the basket besides As this would have left us utterly without food, I objected”
”The lad I ca to eat yourself, Mr Stackpole?” asked Harry, bethinking hiht need refreshment
”I don'tkinder hollow I feel a gnawin' at my vitals that isn't pleasant This is prime fodder; where did you raise it?”
While Obed was eating--with hearty relish, it may be added--Harry related briefly what had befallen Jack and himself since they had parted company
”You're in luck, boys,” was Obed's comment ”You fared better than I, for you've had your square meals, while I've had only one besides this”
”Where was that?” asked Harry
”At the saot there about an hour after you left, as well as I can ave me a tip-top breakfast I ate till I was ashaot such an appetite now Yesterday I didn't have but one meal, and I've had to make up for that”
”Did Lucy tell you we had passed the night at her father's house?”
”Lucy! Seehty familiar,” said Obed in a jocular tone ”She didn't tell me what her name was I suppose she looked upon irl,” said Harry emphatically
”So she is I'm with you there But about your question--I asked her if she had seen anything of two chaps about your size, and she told h to show me I was on your track She told me which way you went, and I follered She was a little shy at first, not knowin' but I ht be an enemy of yours, but when she'd made up herWell, I struck your trail, and here I ahted to see you, Obed,” said Harry cordially
”And I for two,” added Jack, sratified by the pleasure evinced by the boys