was, very naturally, a somewhat perplexing one to
answer. He stood, therefore, with his head bent forward, his right
hand supporting his left elbow, and his left hand supporting his
forehead, while his mild eyes regarded the captive robber with a
meek and almost paternal glance, and his mind occupied itself in
weighing that captives destiny.

"Well, Uncle Moses," said Frank a second time, somewhat impatiently,
"what, are we to do with him? We must do something,--and be quick
about it too,--or else the other beggars'll be back."

"Wal," said Uncle Moses, slowly and thoughtfully, "that's the very
identical pint that I'm a meditatin on. An the long an the short
of it is, that I'm beginnin to think, that the very best thing you
can do is to take your handkerchees back, and come back with me to
the inn, and get some dinner. For I've every reason to believe that
dinner's ready about this time, bein as I remember hearin a bell
a ringin jest before Bob came for me."

At this the boys stared in amazement at Uncle Moses, not knowing
what in the world to make of this.

"What do you mean," said Frank, "about our handkerchiefs, when
we've tied up the bandit with them?"

"Why," said Uncle Moses, "I think if you come you may as well bring
yer handkerchees with you--as I s'pose you prefer havin em."

"But we'd have to untie them," said Bob.

"Wal, yes," said Uncle Moses, dryly; "that follers as a nat'ral
consequence."

"What!" cried Frank, in an indignant voice, "untie him? Let him
go? And after he has nearly killed David and Clive?"

"Wal, he didn't _quite_ kill em," said Uncle Moses, turning his
eyes benignantly upon the two boys. "They seem to me jest now to
be oncommon spry--arter it all. They don't look very nigh death,
as far as appearances go. No harm's done, I guess; an so, I dare
say, we'd best jest let em go."

At this Frank looked ineffably disgusted.

"You see, boys," said Uncle Moses, "here we air, in a very peculiar
situation. What air we? Strangers and sojourners in a strange land;
don't know a word of the outlandish lingo; surrounded by beggars
and Philistines. Air there any law courts here? Air there any
lawyers? Air there any judges? I pause for a reply. There ain't
one. No. An if we keep this man tied up, what can we do with him?
We can't take him back with us in the coach. We can't keep him and
feed him at the hotel like a pet animule. I don't know whar the
lock-up is, an hain't seen a policeman in th