hard,withtheboythreateningtostrikehimwitharock.
"Heputared-hotpotatodownmyback,"explainedBill,"andthencrusheditwithhisfoot.Ihithisears.Haveyougotagunwithyou,Sam?"
Itooktherockawayfromtheboyandendedtheargument.
"I'llfixyou,"saystheboytoBill."NomaneveryetstrucktheRedChiefbutwhathegotpaidforit.Youbetterbecareful!"
Aftereating,theboytakesaleatherobjectwithstringstiedarounditfromhisclothesandgoesoutsidethecaveunwindingit.Thenweheardakindofshout.ItwasRedChiefholdingaslinginonehand.Hemoveditfasterandfasteraroundhishead.
JustthenIheardaheavysoundandadeepbreathfromBill.Arockthesizeofanegghadhithimjustbehindhisleftear.Billfellinthefireacrossthefryingpanofhotwaterforwashingthedishes.Ipulledhimoutandpouredcoldwateronhisheadforhalfanhour.
ThenIwentoutandcaughtthatboyandshookhim.
"Ifyourbehaviordoesn'timprove,"saysI,"I'lltakeyoustraighthome.Now,areyougoingtobegood,ornot?"
"Iwasonlyfunning,"sayshe."Ididn'tmeantohurtOldHank.Butwhatdidhehitmefor?I'llbehaveifyoudon'tsendmehome."
IthoughtitbesttosendalettertooldmanDorsetthatday,demandingtheransomandtellinghowitshouldbepaid.Thelettersaid:
"WehaveyourboyhiddeninaplacefarfromSummit.Wedemandfifteenhundreddollarsforhisreturnthemoneytobeleftatmidnighttonightatthesameplaceandinthesameboxasyouranswer.
Ifyouagreetotheseterms,sendtheanswerinwritingbyamessengertonightathalfpasteighto'clock.AftercrossingOwlCreek,ontheroadtoPo