CHAPTER VIII 

 TOM'S STRATEGY 



/'^ALLING us Inside the tent and changing 

 ^^ our bayonet candlestick to a position where 

 it would be protected from the wind, while the 

 light would still shine on the prisoner through 

 the open tent door, Tom, in a low voice, began 

 giving us the talk that we intended Tucker should 

 overhear. 



"Now, men," began the old man, *'the objects 

 of our expedition are so nearly accomplished that 

 I thought I'd better explain the situation to you 

 more fully so that you will clearly understand the 

 parts you are to play in our future movements. 

 Everything is working out, so far, just as the cap- 

 tain planned it. I don't beheve that anybody 

 along the road or any of these jayhawkers sus- 

 pects us of being soldiers or anything else but 

 jest what we've told 'em, that we are three wolf 

 hunters goin' out to the buffalo range. There's 

 nothin' military about our team an' camp outfit 

 except the Sibley tent an' our rifles, an' lots of 

 citizens use them; an' laying aside our uniforms 

 an' puttin' on these new buckskin togs makes us 

 look Hke three tenderfeet tryin' to imitate fron- 



72 



