endeavoring to
escape, and they might treat him even more harshly than they had done
before. The only thing he could do was to submit quietly, and make
himself known to them at the first opportunity.

"You young rascal!" said Bill, shaking his fist in Johnny's face.

"We'll show you how to rob potato-patches and cut down cellar doors,"
said Josh. "If you don't pay for this night's work, it will be because
there is no law in the land."

The farmers grasped his arms, and Johnny walked submissively between
them toward the house. He was satisfied, from what they had said, that
the exciting events of the night had not been confined to the village.
The people on the island had evidently come in for a share of the
trouble, and Johnny, who was blessed with more than an ordinary amount
of curiosity, wondered what had been going on, and grew angrier every
moment, because he could not speak to his captors. He thought of the
time he was wasting, too, and wished Josh and Bill had been a thousand
miles from there before they attempted his capture.

Johnny was astonished at the sensation he created when he was led into
the house. Every one present looked at him with curiosity, and wondered
that so honest-looking a boy should belong to a band of young robbers.
When he had taken the chair pointed out to him, Josh stationed himself
near the door to prevent his escape, and Bill removed the gag. The rough
treatment he had experienced had sadly ruffled his temper, and as soon
as he was able to speak he looked fiercely at Bill, and exclaimed:

"I'd like to know what you are about!"

"Would! Well, I can soon tell you," replied Bill. "You are one of those
fellows who robbed our potato-patches, aint you?"

"Do I look like a boy of that kind?" demanded Johnny, indignantly. "I
never saw your potato-patch, and I don't know that you have one."

"Now, just look a here," said Bill, "what's the use of telling that?"

"It's the truth," protested the prisoner. "My name is John Harding, and
I am clerk in Mr. Henry's grocery store, which has just been robbed of
seven thousand dollars. I was in pursuit of the burglars when you caught
me. I am not in the habit of telling lies," he added, more angrily than
ever, noticing that the young farmers smiled derisively as they listened
to his story. "All you have to do is to go back to the beach with me,
and I will soon convince you that I am not trying to deceive you."

"You want us to take you there, so