Part 12 (1/2)
”Not particularly. It takes more than a parcel of cowards and crooks to frighten me.”
”Don't you put on airs with me. You're in our power now,” jeered Donald.
”I'll make you suffer for the way you've treated me.”
”It would be like you to take advantage of the fact that my arms are tied,” retorted Jack.
Donald came a step closer and stuck his fist under Jack's nose.
”You be careful, or I'll crack you one,” he snarled.
”You're a nice sort of an individual, I must say. Why don't you try fair dealing for a change?”
”I do deal fair. It's you that don't. I----”
”That will do,” interrupted his father; ”I've been talking with Bill and he says he knows a place where we can take this young bantam and leave him till he cools off.”
”You mean that you are going to imprison me?” demanded Jack indignantly.
”You may call it that, if you like,” said Judson imperturbably; ”you are quite too clever a lad to have at large.”
”Where are you taking me to?”
”You'll find that out soon enough. Now then, forward march and, if you attempt to make an outcry, you'll feel this on your head.”
Judson, with a wicked smile, flourished a stout club under the captive boy's nose.
CHAPTER XIV.
JACK'S CURIOSITY AND ITS RESULTS.
”What do you intend to do with me?” repeated Jack, as they hurried over the rough ground, following Bill, who trudged ahead with the lantern.
”You'll find out quick enough, I told you before,” said Donald.
”Don't you know that my friends are in the neighborhood? They will invoke the law against you for this outrage.”
”We know all about that,” was the elder Judson's reply, ”but we're not worrying. We'll have them prisoners, too, before long.”
Jack made no reply to this, but he judged it was an empty threat made to scare him. He knew that nothing would have delighted Donald Judson more than to see him breaking down. So he kept up a brave front, which he was in reality far from feeling at heart.
From the bold manner in which Bill displayed the lantern as he led the party on, Jack knew that the rascal must be familiar with the country, and know it to be spa.r.s.ely inhabited. So far as Jack could judge they were retreating from the river and going up hill.
About an hour after they had started, Bill paused in front of an ancient stone dwelling--or rather what had been a dwelling, for it was now dilapidated and deserted.
”This is the place, boss,” he grated, holding up his lantern so that its rays fell on the old place, which looked as grim as a fortress.
”It's haunted, too, isn't it, Bill?” asked Donald meaningly.