sum."

"You can do as you please, but you had better ask a reasonable amount if
you expect to get it."

"We don't want advice. We shall manage things in our own way."

Convinced that further discussion would be unavailing, Rodney relapsed
into silence, but now his captors proceeded to unfold their plans.

One of them procured a bottle of ink, some paper and a pen, and set them
on the table.

"Come up here, boy, and write to Mr. Pettigrew," he said in a tone of
authority.

"What shall I write?"

"Tell him that you are a prisoner, and that you will not be released
unless he pays five thousand dollars."

"I don't want to write that. It will be the same as asking him to pay it
for me."

"That is what we mean him to understand."

"I won't write it."

Rodney knew his danger, but he looked resolutely into the eyes of the
men who held his life in their hands. His voice did not waver, for he
was a manly and courageous boy.

"The boy's got grit!" said one of the men to the other.

"Yes, but it won't save him. Boy, are you going to write what I told
you?"

"No."

"Are you not afraid that we will kill you?"

"You have power to do it."

"Don't you want to live?"

"Yes. Life is sweet to a boy of sixteen."

"Then why don't you write?"

"Because I think it would be taking a mean advantage of Mr. Pettigrew."

"You are a fool. Roderick, what shall we do with him?"

"Tell him simply to write that he is in our hands."

"Well thought of. Boy, will you do that?"

"Yes."

Rodney gave his consent for he was anxious that Mr. Pettigrew should
know what had prevented him from coming home when he was expected.

"Very well, write! You will know what to say."

Rodney drew the paper to him, and wrote as follows:

DEAR MR. PETTIGREW,

On my way home I was stopped by two men who have confined me in a cave,
and won't let me go unless a sum of money is paid for my ransom. I don't
know what to do. You will know better than I. RODNEY ROPES.

His chief captor took the note and read it aloud.

"That will do," he said. "Now he will believe us when we say that you
are in our hands."

He signed to Rodney to rise from the table and took his place. Drawing a
pile of paper to him, he penned the following note:

Rodney Ropes is in our hands. He wants his liberty and we want money.
Send us five thousand dollars, or arrange a meeting at which it can be
delivered to us, and he shall go free. Otherwise his death be on