How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
Family ties are strong in semirural communities, says we; therefore, and for other reasons, a kidnapping project ought to do better there than in the radius of newspapers that send reporters out in plain clothes to stir up talk about such things. We knew that Summit couldn't get after us with anything stronger than constables and, maybe, some lackadaisical bloodhounds and a diatribe or two in the local paper. So, it looked good. (3)
The setup seems simple enough and well thought out. Sam and Bill are not incompetent; they're simply a tad short sighted. They have given thought to their crime, and explained in fairly convincing terms why it should have worked.
Quote #2
That boy put up a fight like a welterweight cinnamon bear (11)
"Welterweight" is a boxing term that refers to someone who weighs between 140 and 147 pounds. If you remember, in another part of the story Johnny is described as being about 40 pounds. So here's this forty-pound kid who fights with the strength of a bear that's more than double his size. This should have been the first sign of trouble down the road.
Quote #3
Yes, sir, that boy seemed to be having the time of his life. The fun of camping out in a cave had made him forget that he was a captive himself. (15)
The plan seems to be going extremely well at this point. The boy is entertained and unlikely to run off. Sam and Bill should be able to sit tight and wait for their ransom to come in. Of course, nothing seems to go as planned in this story and it's only a matter of time until the tables are turned.
Quote #4
Just at daybreak I was awakened by a series of awful screams from Bill. They weren't yells, or howls, or shouts, or whoops, or yawps, such as you'd expect from a manly set of vocal organs—they were simply indecent, terrifying, humiliating screams, such as women emit when they see ghosts or caterpillars. It's an awful thing to hear a strong, desperate, fat man scream uncontrollably in a cave at daybreak. (24)
This is another indication that the boys are in way over their heads. Johnny is trying to scalp Bill. Literally. With an actual knife and everything. The tides are just starting to turn on the traditional kidnapper/victim roles we are expecting.
Quote #5
"It has not yet been discovered that the wolves have borne away the tender lambkin from the fold. Heaven help the wolves!" (31)
Sam is clearly aware of how this situation is starting to unfold, but he is still casually cracking jokes to himself about it. He's sure that no one is looking for Johnny because no one has noticed his absence yet.
Quote #6
"I'll fix you," says the kid to Bill. "No man ever yet struck the Red Chief but he got paid for it. You better beware!" (34)
I'd say that victim is looking rather dangerous right about now. We must remind you that Johnny is a mere ten years of age.
Quote #7
I dodged, and heard a heavy thud and a kind of a sigh from Bill, like a horse gives out when you take his saddle off. A rock the size of an egg had caught Bill just behind his left ear. He loosened himself all over and fell in the fire across the frying pan of hot water for washing the dishes. I dragged him out and poured cold water on his head for half an hour. (39)
Johnny has now caused actual physical harm on Bill. It's official—this kid has certainly got the upper hand.
Quote #8
"I was only funning," says he, sullenly. "I didn't mean to hurt Old Hank. But what did he hit me for? I'll behave, Snake-eye, if you won't send me home, and if you'll let me play the Black Scout today?" (45)
Is this Johnny negotiating the terms of his captivity? If this doesn't make you laugh, we're not sure any turn of irony will move you.
Quote #9
I thought it best to send a peremptory letter to old man Dorset that day, demanding the ransom and dictating how it should be paid. (47)
How can you not love how out of touch Sam is? Bill is getting pretty twitchy at this point. His ability to maintain his composure is wearing thin.
Quote #10
These terms are final, and if you do not accede to them, no further communication will be attempted. (56)
Oh, man. It's kind of cute that Sam still thinks he's got this thing under control. Johnny is running amok, Bill is begging Sam to be reasonable, and no one seems to be concerned about Johnny's absence. Making such a definitive threat truly places Sam far from the driver's seat if anything goes wrong. If you cannot deliver on a threat, you will lose—no question about it. What's more, it's really difficult to regain your credibility after making an empty threat.
Quote #11
For an hour I was afraid of his mind. And then I told him that my scheme was to put the whole job through immediately and that we would get the ransom and be off with it by midnight if old Dorset fell in with our proposition. (80)
Bill is heartened by Sam's final act of authority. This is the final moment where the boys can believe that their scheme will work. In just a few moments, we are going to receive the shock of poor Sam and Bill's life as Old Dorset returns his counter offer to their ransom note.
Quote #12
"Tell you the truth, Bill," says I, "this little lamb has some what got on my nerves, too. We'll take him home, pay the ransom, and make our getaway." (89)
Sam has finally seen the forest through the trees. It's time to abort this failed plan, and in a hurry. Within the narrative, it is hilarious that once Sam realizes the folly of their plan, the story is over within that same page. Bill, on the other hand, was forced to endure ten pages of prolonged agony.
Quote #13
And, as dark as it was, and as fat as Bill was, and as good a runner as I am, he was a good mile and a half out of Summit before I could catch up with him. (96)
The end of our tale sees Sam and Bill fleeing for their sanity as quick as their feet will carry them, and two hundred and fifty dollars cash poorer for their efforts.