Page 135 - Arrow Publications Pvt. Ltd.

After eating, the boy took a leather object with strings tied around it from his clothes and

went outside the cave unwinding it. Then we heard a kind of shout. It was Red Chief holding
a sling in one hand. He moved it faster and faster around his head.

Just then, I heard a heavy sound and a deep breath from Bill. A rock, the size of an egg had hit

him just behind his left ear. Bill fell in the fire across the frying pan of hot water for washing
the dishes. I pulled him out and poured cold water on his head for half an hour. Then I went
out and caught that boy and shook him.

“If your behaviour doesn’t improve,” I

said, “I will take you straight home. Now,
are you going to be good, or not?”

“I was doing it for fun,” he said. “I didn’t
mean to hurt old Hank. But what did he

hit me for? I will behave well if you don’t
send me home.”

“I thought it best to send a letter to the

boy’s father, Dorset that day, demanding
the ransom and telling how it should be
paid. The letter read:

“We have your boy hidden in a place

near Summit. We demand $1500 for his
return; the money to be left at 12 in the midnight.

If you agree to these terms, send the answer in writing by a messenger at half-past eight.
After crossing owl creek, on the road to Poplar Cove, there are three large trees. At the bottom

of the fence, opposite the third tree, there will be a small box. The messenger shall place the
answer in this box and return immediately to Summit.

If you pay the money, your boy will be returned to you

safe and sound within three hours. If you fail to agree
to our demand, you will never see your boy again".

I mailed my letter and left.

At half-past eight, I was waiting for the messenger to
arrive. Exactly on time, a half-grown boy rode up the

road on a bicycle. He found the box and put a folded
piece of paper into it and left.

And it read:

Arrow - English Plus-6 134