THE WOLF HUNTERS 



can't well make any organized opposition to 'em. 

 This lot is an offshoot from Cleveland's gang of 

 jayhawkers that we heard about at Leavenworth. 

 It seems, the old fellow says, that this Captain 

 Tucker was a lieutenant under Cleveland, an' 

 they couldn't agree — each one wanted to be boss 

 — so Tucker with a few followers split off from 

 Cleveland an' started a gang of his own." 



*'Well, but did you find out how many there 

 are in this gang?" I asked. 



"Yes. The old man says that they try to make 

 people believe that there is a big company, but 

 from the best information he can get there are 

 only seven or eight." 



*'What did I tell you.^" said Jack contemptu- 

 ously. "Ef they're no better than these two 

 we're good for that many, easy." 



"Yes," said Tom, "ef we don't let 'em get the 

 drop on us I think we can stand 'em oflF; but we 

 may find 'em a tougher lot than we take 'em for — 

 ef they tackle us for a fight we've just got to 

 clean 'em out, it's a ground-hog case. An' as to 

 killin' 'em, I'd have no more hesitation about it 

 than I would to kill a hostile Injun. Ef we have 

 to open fire on 'em I want you men to shoot to 

 kill, an' I'll do the same. These jayhawkers have 

 been declared outlaws by orders from the com- 

 mander of the department, an' the troops are 

 turned loose to hunt 'em down, kill 'em, or break 

 up the gangs wherever they can be found. 



48 



