ible speed.

As soon as Gus began to understand that he might be carried away
despite his refusal to walk, he set up a series of the most terrific
yells, and Fred was forced to come to a halt.

"I'll soon put an end to that kind of fun," he said, angrily, while
whittling a piece of soft wood. "With this in your mouth there won't be
much screaming."

Now Gus began to fancy he might be finally beaten, and then tried new
tactics.

"See here, all you want is the money, an' now you've got it I'll agree
that neither Tim nor me'll chase or try in any way to catch you, if I'm
left here. There's no need even to take off the ropes; but let me stay
where he'll see me."

Fred shook his head.

"I need you quite as much as I do the money, and I am bound to take you
along."

"What good will it do to have me put in jail?"

"It'll be the means of freeing a better fellow than you ever dared to
be."

"I'll kill you some day."

"Possibly, but that don't let you out of this scrape."

By this time Fred had the gag ready, and a stout pressure on the
prisoner's cheeks caused him to open his mouth.

The wood was thrust between Gus' teeth, and Fred tied his handkerchief
over it to prevent it from slipping.

"Now when you're willing to walk I'll take that out," he said. "Once in
every few minutes, when we have to stop to rest I'll look at your eyes.
If you wink, it means you're ready to do as I say."

Gus glared at him savagely; but was careful to keep his eyes wide open.

Again Fred shouldered his burden, realizing, meanwhile that he could
never reach Farley's if his prisoner remained obstinate.

When an hundred yards had been traversed he was forced to rest.

Gus' eyes stared at him.

A second and a third time was this repeated. At each interval the
distance was shorter, and Fred knew he could not travel much farther.

"If he don't give in pretty soon I shall," he muttered to himself as he
threw his burden to the ground for the third time.

To his great relief Gus winked violently when Fred pulled the
handkerchief down to gain a view of his eyes and the gag was removed
without loss of time.

"Will you agree to walk now?" he asked.

"Yes, yes; it wouldn't take a feller long to stifle with that thing in
his mouth."

"I don't care what happens so long as I get you to Farley's."

Once more Gus tried to beg off; but Fred would not listen.

"Walk fast," he said, "and if you don't do your best, in goes the gag
again."