"I have you already," Moth answered, "and so there is no need to pursue you farther. You are under age and an estray, for Throckmorton’s not your guardian, and can be reclaimed by the owner wherever found. Is not that so, jailer?" "Maybe; but I think you ought to have a warrant to take him," he added, brightening up at the thought. "Nonsense! It is not necessary. You are a justice, and it is your business to hold him pending investigation." "Why should I, if you have nothing to prove your right to him?" "I have, and you know it," Moth answered, confidently. "I do not," the jailer replied, doggedly. "Well, I tell you so now, and that I shall hold you responsible as an officer of the law for his safety," Moth answered, with savage determination. "Well, I say I’ll not turn a hand to help you. The statutes of Illinois are very liberal about boys being at large, and I am not going to interfere with this one," the jailer answered. "You will not dare to refuse to perform the duties of your office," Moth answered, desperately. "It is not my duty to detain him," the jailer answered. "I’ll never go with him," I spoke up, encouraged by the jailer’s manner and speech. "He has no more claim on me than that robber." "Yes, I have; and you will go with me, just as the robber did," Moth replied. "I will make you go." "You can’t; and if you were not an old man I’d wallop the life out of you right here and now," I cried, my anger getting the better of me again. To this Moth made no response, but stood still, eying me for a while in silence; then turning to the jailer, he said: "To-morrow I will bring an officer to take this lad, my client’s ward according to the judge’s ruling, and you dare not let him go meanwhile. He is a runaway, and I call on you to hold him." "If you want to leave him here, perhaps you can, provided you pay his board and lodging, but I will not assume any responsibility—not for a minute," the jailer answered, cowed by Moth’s manner and confident air. "Yes, you will, and you will secure him in the same way you have the highwayman," Moth answered, pointing to the robber. "I’ll see you damned first. He is not a criminal, but a child, and I will not tie him up, nor will you," the jailer answered. "You are not fit to fill the office you do; but I must be satisfied, I suppose. Anyway, he can’t escape," Moth answered, gazing about him as if to judge of the strength of the room. "No," the jailer replied, in a voice that plainly said he wished I could; "and now, sir, if you have no one else to lock up and no more orders to give, I will shut up shop and go home." Moth returning no answer to this, the jailer crossed to where the robber sat and pinioned his arms, after which he attached the rope to a ring in the wall, but not so closely that the prisoner could not lie down. Then taking his lantern, he motioned Moth to go ahead, following him to the door. There turning around, he pointed to a bunk in the corner, saying: