The Tin Box Part 18

"What! Do you mean to insult me?" asked Philip, hastily.

"Oh, no; I am only stating facts. Philip, then, was bullying two children, when you stepped in and knocked him down."

"I deny it!" said Philip, flus.h.i.+ng.

"Then where's the injury you want satisfaction for?" asked Congreve.

"Do you take the part of a bully, then?" asked Harry, puzzled.

"Yes; for the bully happens to be my friend, and I stand by my friends, right or wrong. Accordingly, I propose to leave you here, tied hand and foot, for a few hours, or until you succeed in getting loose. It will be soothing to the feelings of my friend Philip, and will give you time to reflect upon your mistake in attacking the son of a rich man."

"But," urged Harry, "I might have to stay here all night!"

"Quite possible! Fortunately, however, there are no wild beasts prowling about in this forest, and you won't incur any danger."

"But my mother will be worried about me."

"I am sorry for that, but it won't be for long."

Harry started to run, feeling that he must avoid the fate that threatened him, if possible; but Congreve overtook him almost instantly, and, pa.s.sing his lithe, strong arms around him, pinioned him so firmly that he could not escape. He was several inches taller than our hero, and, naturally, much stronger.

"Now, Philip," he said.

Philip advanced to tie Harry, but the latter, feeling that resistance was useless, turning to Congreve, said:

"If I must be tied, you may do it. I won't resist."

"Come, that's sensible," said Congreve, and proceeded to tie Harry hand and foot, as he had proposed.

When the task was completed he took him up and set him down in such a way that he could lean his back against a tree.

"That will do," he said. "If you don't get free before, I will come to-morrow morning and release you."

"I would like to give him a licking now!" growled Philip,

"That would be cowardly," said Congreve. "Come away and leave him."

Rather reluctantly, for he wanted to stay and triumph over his helpless rival, Philip followed his companion out of the wood.

CHAPTER XV

PHILIP'S BAD ADVISER

Philip was elated by his triumph over Harry. Being cowardly by nature, he felt that it would be a terrible thing to stay in the lonely wood all night, and he naturally thought that Harry would look upon it in the same light.

He felt that it would pay off all old scores, and leave the advantage with him. But there was a drop of bitterness mingled with his exultation.

James Congreve had called him a bully to his face, and in the presence of Harry, and this seemed to him a personal insult. He was not willing to let it pa.s.s, and was resolved to give Congreve to understand that the offense must not be repeated.

"Well, Philip," said Congreve, "our plan has succeeded."

"Yes," answered Philip, shortly.

"What's the matter? Aren't you satisfied yet?"

"Yes, as far as that goes; but I don't like the way you spoke to me."

"Go ahead! Let me know what it is you complain of."

"You called me a bully!"

"You are one, you know," said Congreve, frankly.

"No, I don't know it; and, what is more, I don't like to have any one speak of me in that way!" returned Philip, irritably.

"Very likely not. People don't generally like to have their faults alluded to."

"I tell you I am not a bully!"

"You are mistaken. You would bully me if I were a small boy and not your superior in strength."

"At any rate, if you are my friend, you ought not to talk of me in that way," said Philip, thinking it politic to change his tone.

"You want me to shut my eyes to your real character, then?"

"I don't want you to talk of me in an insulting manner."

"Not at all, my dear fellow. I said you were a bully, and so you are. I meant no offense. The sons of rich men are sometimes puffed up with the idea of their own importance, and your father is a rich man, at least for a country place."

"He is a rich man for any place," said Philip, boastfully.

"I am glad to hear it, especially as it will make it easier for you to pay me the trifling sum you owe me."

"Trifling sum!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Philip. "You said it amounted to over twenty-two dollars."

"So it does; but that is a trifling sum for the son of a very rich man.

Some persons would charge you for the little service I have done this afternoon, but that I only did at the bidding of friends.h.i.+p."

"It was very kind of you," said Philip, uncomfortably; "but you mustn't think because my father is rich I have plenty of money. The fact is, he is very stingy with me, and if it wasn't for my mother I would only have a dollar a week."

"It is very considerate of the old man, to be sure. You ought to have five dollars a week."

"So I ought. If I only had I would be able to pay you up in a short time."

"Why don't you suggest to your paternal relative to enlarge the supplies?" suggested Congreve, knocking off the ashes from his cigar.