plarCove,therearethreelargetrees.Atthebottomofthefence,oppositethethirdtree,willbeasmallbox.ThemessengerwillplacetheanswerinthisboxandreturnimmediatelytoSummit.Ifyoufailtoagreetoourdemand,youwillneverseeyourboyagain.Ifyoupaythemoneyasdemanded,hewillbereturnedtoyousafeandwellwithinthreehours."
ItooktheletterandwalkedovertoPoplarCove.Ithensataroundthepostofficeandstore.AnoldmantheresayshehearsSummitisallworriedbecauseofEbenezerDorset'sboyhavingbeenlostorstolen.ThatwasallIwantedtoknow.Imailedmyletterandleft.ThepostmastersaidthemailcarrierwouldcomebyinanhourtotakethemailontoSummit.
(MUSIC)
Athalfpasteight,Iwasupinthethirdtree,waitingforthemessengertoarrive.Exactlyontime,ahalf-grownboyridesuptheroadonabicycle.Hefindstheboxatthefootofthefence.Heputsafoldedpieceofpaperintoitandleaves,turningbacktowardSummit.
Isliddownthetree,gotthenoteandwasbackatthecaveinahalfhour.IopenedthenoteandreadittoBill.Thisiswhatitsaid:
"Gentlemen:Ireceivedyourletterabouttheransomyouaskforthereturnofmyson.Ithinkyouarealittlehighinyourdemands.Iherebymakeyouacounter-proposal,whichIbelieveyouwillaccept.YoubringJohnnyhomeandpaymetwohundredandfiftydollars,andIagreetotakehimoffyourhands.Youhadbettercomeatnightbecausetheneighborsbelieveheislost.And,Icouldnotberesponsibleforwhattheywoulddotoanybodytheysawbringinghimback.Veryrespectfully,EbenezerDorset."
"GreatpiratesofPenzance!"saysI,"ofallthenerve..."ButIlookedatBillandstopped.Hehadthemo