"Ha! Ha!" sneered the man. "I have you in my power. I will keep you
here a prisoner till you sign the paper which will make me master of
all your wealth, and beware, girl, if you do not sign, you may answer
for it with your life!"
"Golly!" murmured William.
Then he crawled away into the bushes, followed by his attendant
squire.
"Well," said William, his face purple with excitement, "we've found
someone to rescue all _right_. He's a base wretch, wot she said, all
_right_."
"Will you kill him?" said the awed squire.
"How big was he? Could you see?" said William the discreet.
"He was ever so big. Great big face he had, too, with a beard."
"Then I won't try killin' him--not straight off. I'll think of some
plan--somethin' cunnin'."
[Illustration: WILLIAM AND GINGER FOLLOWED ON ALL FOURS WITH ELABORATE
CAUTION.]
He sat with his chin on his hands, gazing into space, till they were
surprised by the opening of the front door and the appearance of a
tall, thick-set, elderly man. William quivered with excitement. The
man went along a path through the bushes. William and Ginger followed
on all fours with elaborate caution. At every almost inaudible sound
from Ginger, William turned his red, frowning face on to him with a
resounding "Sh!" The path ended at a small shed with a locked door.
The man opened the door--the key stood in the lock--and entered.
Promptly William, with a snarl expressive of cunning and triumph,
hurled himself at the door and turned the key in the lock.
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