"Well, Uncle Moses," said Frank a second time, somewhat impatiently, "what, are we to do with him? We must do something,--and be quick about it too,--or else the other beggars'll be back." "Wal," said Uncle Moses, slowly and thoughtfully, "that's the very identical pint that I'm a meditatin on. An the long an the short of it is, that I'm beginnin to think, that the very best thing you can do is to take your handkerchees back, and come back with me to the inn, and get some dinner. For I've every reason to believe that dinner's ready about this time, bein as I remember hearin a bell a ringin jest before Bob came for me." At this the boys stared in amazement at Uncle Moses, not knowing what in the world to make of this. "What do you mean," said Frank, "about our handkerchiefs, when we've tied up the bandit with them?" "Why," said Uncle Moses, "I think if you come you may as well bring yer handkerchees with you--as I s'pose you prefer havin em." "But we'd have to untie them," said Bob. "Wal, yes," said Uncle Moses, dryly; "that follers as a nat'ral consequence." "What!" cried Frank, in an indignant voice, "untie him? Let him go? And after he has nearly killed David and Clive?" "Wal, he didn't _quite_ kill em," said Uncle Moses, turning his eyes benignantly upon the two boys. "They seem to me jest now to be oncommon spry--arter it all. They don't look very nigh death, as far as appearances go. No harm's done, I guess; an so, I dare say, we'd best jest let em go." At this Frank looked ineffably disgusted. "You see, boys," said Uncle Moses, "here we air, in a very peculiar situation. What air we? Strangers and sojourners in a strange land; don't know a word of the outlandish lingo; surrounded by beggars and Philistines. Air there any law courts here? Air there any lawyers? Air there any judges? I pause for a reply. There ain't one. No. An if we keep this man tied up, what can we do with him? We can't take him back with us in the coach. We can't keep him and feed him at the hotel like a pet animule. I don't know whar the lock-up is, an hain't seen a policeman in the whole place. Besides, if we do hand this bandit over to the _po_lice, do you think it's goin to end there? No, sir. Not it. If this man's arrested, we'll be arrested too. We'll have to be witnesses agin him. An that's what I don't want to do, if I can help it. My idee an aim allus is to keep clear of the lawyers; I'd rather be imposed on; I'd rather pay out money unjustly, be cheated, humbugged, and do any thin, than put myself in the power of lawyers. Depend upon it, they're as bad here as they air home. They'd have us all in jail, as witnesses. Now, I don't want to go to jail."