The Ransom of Red Chief

The Ransom of Red Chief

By O. Henry

PART 3 

After breakfast, the kid twent out of the cave, We followed him. 

"What's he doing now?" asked Bill, worried. “You don't think he'll try to escape, do you, Sam?" 

"Certainly not, he doesn't seem to like home very much," I answered. “But we must make a plan about the ransom. There doesn't seem to be a lot of excitement in Summit about the boy's disappearance. Perhaps they haven't discovered that he's gone yet. Tonight we must get a message to his father demanding the two thousand dollars for the boy's return." 

Multiple Choice

The boy's father know he is gone

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Everyone in Summit is looking for the boy

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The kidnappers want to send a ________to the boy's father

• message

• money

• the boy

Multiple Select

"..we must get a message to his father demanding the two thousand dollars for the boy's return". What do they want? Choose TWO answers

• The father's money

• The boy

• The ransom

• To take the money and stay with the boy

At that moment, we heard another loud war cry from Red Chief. He was throwing stones. A stone the size of an egg hit Bill behind his left ear and he fell into the fire. I pulled him out and poured cold water on his head for half an hour. 

At last, Bill sat up, felt behind his ear and said, “Sam, you won't go away and leave me here alone with Red Chief, will you?" 

"Relax," I said. "You'll soon feel better."

Multiple Choice

Bill was ----- the boy.

• a friend of

• happy with

• afraid of

I caught the boy and shook him hard. “If you don't behave, I'll take you home immediately,” I told him. “Now, are you going to be good or not?” 

"I was only having fun, I didn't mean to hurt Old Hank. "I'll behave, Snake-eye, if you don't send me home and if you allow me to play the Black Scout today. 

“I don't know that game,” I said. “You and Mr Bill can decide about that. He'll look after you today. I'm going away for some time, on business. Now, come here and say you're sorry to Bill or you'll go home immediately.” 

Multiple Choice

Sam tells Red Chief that he

• will pay him money

• can stay with them

• will take him back home

Multiple Choice

Bill ----- with the boy

• stays

• goes away on business

Multiple Choice

Sam -----

• goes away on business

• stays with the boy

Poll

Sam's business is to send a message to the boy's father

• True

• False

Bill and the kid shook hands. I'm going to the little village five kilometres from here, to try to find out what the people know about the kidnapping,” I told Bill. “Also, I think we should send old Dorset a ransom letter today demanding the money and telling him how to pay it." 

“You know, Sam, I've been your friend for a long time and I've always tried to be a good friend,” Bill said. “We've been through earthquakes (רעידות אדמה), fires, floods (שטפונות), train robberies and tornadoes together. I've never been so scared until we kidnapped this terrible kid. You won't leave me with him for a long time, will you, Sam?” 

"I'll be back some time this afternoon,” I said. “You play with the boy and amuse (לשעשע) him until I return. Now we'll write the letter to old Dorset.” 

Bill and I got paper and a pencil and worked on the letter while Red Chief, with a blanket around him, walked up and down and guarded the cave. With tears in his eyes, Bill begged me to make the ransom fifteen hundred (1,500) dollars instead of two thousand. 

"I'm not trying to underestimate parents' love for their child," Bill said, "but parents are human and it isn't human for anybody to pay two thousand dollars for that terrible kid. I'll pay you the difference.” 

Multiple Choice

Bill and Sam wanted a lot of money. But in the end they

• gave up the money

• agreed to get less

• asked for more

Poll

Why did Bill agree to get 1,500 dollars and NOT 2,000?

• Because he didn't need the money

• Because the boy was nice to him so he didn't want to get the money

• Beacuse he was afraid of the boy and wanted to get rid of him

The letter:

Ebenezer Dorset, We have hidden your son in a place far from Summit. It's useless for you or the detectives to try to find him. If you want your boy back, then read these conditions very carefully: We demand fifteen hundred dollars for his return; you must leave the money tonight in the same box as your answer to this letter. Send your answer at half past eight tonight. A kilometre before Poplar Grove, you will see three big trees, near a white fence. At the bottom of the fence, there will be a small box. You must place your answer in this box. If you do not follow these instructions or if you phone the police, you will never see your son again. If you pay the money as we demand, your son will be returned to you safe and sound within three hours. If you do not agree, we will not communicate with you again. Two Desperate Men 

Poll

Bill and Sam signed "Two Desperate Men" and NOT their names

• because they do good things and they want to stay unknown (לא ידועים)

• because they don't want Mr. Dorset to know who they were

• because the boy doesn't know them