The Tin Box Part 36

"What! I beg your pardon?" exclaimed Philip, haughtily.

"That is what I said."

"Do you think I would demean myself by asking anybody's pardon?"

demanded Philip, his pride getting the better of his prudence.

"That is exactly what I expect, Philip Ross. If I had played such a mean trick on any one, I should think it no more than right to do just that thing."

"No," said Philip, stubbornly; "I won't do that, but I will give you the two dollars."

"I don't want your two dollars," returned Harry, contemptuously.

Two dollars was not so large a sum in his eyes as it would have been the day previous, for in the last twenty-four hours he had earned, and was confident of receiving, a reward of two hundred and fifty dollars.

Still, even if this had not been the case, he would have disdained to sell his a.s.sistance to Philip.

"The money will do you a great deal more good than my asking your pardon," argued Philip.

"No, it won't. I am not very much in need of money, but I won't help a boy who has acted toward me as you have, unless you will apologize."

"Don't be a fool! Come and help me, and the money will be yours."

"It is no use, Philip; my mind is made up. Will you apologize?"

"No."

"Then, good-day! Give my respects to Mr. Temple when he returns."

So saying, Harry turned to leave the cabin, and Philip's heart sank in dismay as he saw the only one from whom he could hope for help leaving his presence.

"Hold on!" he called out. "I'll give you five dollars! I haven't got it with me, but I can get it from my father. I'll hand it to you to-morrow."

Philip hated to humble his pride, and he would rather have paid five dollars, even if it came out of his own pocket, than submit to such a humiliation.

"Good-by, Philip," said Harry, resolutely.

"Are you really going to leave me? That's mean."

"You know the condition on which I'll help you."

"I'll give you ten dollars!" exclaimed Philip, desperately.

"Not a cent! I won't take a cent from you! Either I will help you or leave you here, but no money shall pa.s.s between us."

There was a calm resolution in Harry's tone which at last convinced Philip that he was in earnest.

"What do you want me to say?" he asked, sullenly.

"That you are sorry for the mean trick you played on me, and ask my pardon."

"All right. Now untie me."

"You haven't said it."

"It's the same thing."

"I don't consider it so."

"Well, tell me what you want, then," said Philip, querulously.

"Repeat after me: 'I am sorry for the mean trick I played on you, and I beg your pardon.'"

Philip was perforce obliged to do as Harry required, and he repeated the words, though with a very bad grace.

"That will do," said Harry. "Now I am satisfied."

He felt for his knife, but did not have it with him.

He therefore knelt down, and set to work to untie the knots in the rope.

He succeeded at last, but not without considerable difficulty and the expenditure of not a little time. At last he loosened the last knot, and said:

"Now you are free."

Philip jumped to his feet--for these were the last to be released--with an exclamation of satisfaction.

"Thank goodness!" he cried; "now I am free, and can leave this miserable hut!"

He looked up, and his hopefulness was succeeded by quick dismay.

There, in the doorway, scowling at the two boys, was the master of the cabin.

CHAPTER XXVII

THE ARREST

Philip's face changed suddenly, and he uttered an exclamation of dismay.

He really believed that his life was in danger.

"There he is!" he e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed, his eyes nearly starting out of his head.

Harry turned, and his glance, too, fell on the menacing face of the outlaw. But his face did not reflect the terror so plainly to be seen on Philip's. It should be remembered, however--for I do not wish to give our hero more credit than he really deserves for his courage--that he knew help was near at hand, and Philip didn't.

Ralph Temple didn't speak at first. Then he looked from Philip to Harry, and demanded, savagely:

"Who released that boy?"