JACK TAKES A PRISONER 



While Jack had been telhng us all this we had 

 been standing far enough away from the prisoner 

 so that we were sure he could not hear what was 

 said. 



Tom, while apparently listening to Jack, asked 

 no questions and offered no suggestions but 

 seemed wrapped in his own thoughts, and I knew, 

 from often having seen him in a similar revery, 

 that he was studying out some "strategy," as he 

 would call it, to spring on our enemies, the jay- 

 hawkers. 



When Jack came to a pause Tom began: 



"Men, we can't afford to fool away much more 

 time with these robbers. An idea struck me when 

 I saw that big fellow tied to the wagon wheel, an' 

 I've been ponderin' on it ever since, an' if we can 

 carry out the scheme I think I see a way of run- 

 ning a bluff on him an' his gang that will scare 

 'em out of this neighborhood, an' that will be the 

 next best thing to killing 'em an' we won't have 

 to stay here. Now, listen an' I'll give you a hint 

 of my plan. We'll go into the tent, where we'll be 

 close enough to him for Tucker to hear what we're 

 saying ef he listens right sharp, an' I know he'll 

 do that. I'll give you two men a little talk that'll 

 go to show that instead of our being what we've 

 represented ourselves to be — that is, three wolf 

 hunters goin' out to the buffalo range — we are 

 really three soldiers disguised this way an' sent out 

 here to do a little detective service on purpose to 



69 



