Why does Bill ask Sam if they can lower the ransom demand in "The Ransom of Red Chief"?

Bill wants to lower the ransom amount because Red Chief, the boy who Bill and Sam have kidnapped, is terrorizing them, particularly Bill. Red Chief continually lets out blood-curdling war cries, and he also threatens to scalp Bill by sitting on his chest and holding a knife to his head. Later, the boy drops a hot potato down Bill's back and smashes it with his foot. Red Chief threatens to hit Bill with a rock, and then tosses a rock that hits Bill behind the ear. As a result, Bill falls into the campfire. Red Chief seems in no hurry whatsoever to get home, as he's having a grand time camping out with Bill and Sam. While Sam wants to ask for a $2,000 ransom, Bill begs him to lower the ransom to $1,500, as Bill doubts Red Chief's parents will want to pay the higher price to get their rowdy and troublesome son back.