“Please give me my cap,” I said to Yates; and he handed it over. “If the boy is going to act like a mule, what is the use of wasting time over him,” put in Avery. “The question is, now we’ve got him, what are we going to do with him?” “I’d like to put him out of existence!” growled Mr. Norton. “We can’t do that,” said Yates. “Shall we take him along?” There was considerable talk, and then this was agreed to. “Now, then, forward march!” cried Mr. Norton. “And mind you don’t dare to escape or I won’t be responsible for whatever happens to you.” “I won’t go along,” I said stubbornly. “You won’t?” “Not a step. You have no right to act in this manner. I have as much right to come on this island as you have without being molested.” “Getting on your high horse!” sneered Mr. Norton. “If so, I intend to stay there,” was my quick reply. Mr. Norton tried to force me forward; but I refused to budge, and finally sat down on a rock. “Now what are you going to do?” asked Avery, who I really believe was inclined to laugh at the whole scene. “Rather rough when an uncle can’t manage his own nephew.” And both he and Yates let off a loud laugh. “It’s no laughing matter,” growled Mr. Norton. “This boy knows altogether too much. If we got caught, he could place us in a fine box.” “Well, as he won’t go along, suppose we leave him here,” said Yates. “What do you mean?” “Let us tie him up to one of the trees. Before he can manage to get away, we’ll be out of the district.” “But he may not be able to get away at all if we bind him too fast,” suggested Avery. “Then he would starve to death.” “That wouldn’t harm much,” said Mr. Norton. “It’s a good idea,” he went on. “Any rope in the crowd?” There was; and it was quickly brought forward. Things were getting to look serious. To be left behind bound to a tree was far from pleasant to contemplate. I half wished I had agreed to accompany the three men. “I won’t be bound!” I cried. And jumping up, I tried to dash away. But my guardian was too quick for me. He caught me by the arm and held me with all his strength. “Here is a tree, boys,” he said. “I will hold him while you put the rope around him. Mind you get it tight or he’ll be out of it in a jiffy.” “Not when I tie the knots,” said Yates. “You forget I spent six years at sea and understand how to handle a rope perfectly.” The rope was a long one, and it was passed around my body and the tree several times. Then my feet were fastened, and finally my hands. “Now he’s as stiff as a poker,” went on Yates. “I’ll warrant he won’t get loose short of four or five hours at the least.” “It ought to be four or five days,” grumbled Mr. Norton. “Seems to me you’re pretty hard on the boy,” remarked Avery. “For an uncle, it doesn’t look well at all.” “Mind your own business!” cried my guardian. “This is my business. We’ve done enough in stealing the diamonds without leaving the boy to die here.”