THE WOLF HUNTERS 



around there; an' when I join the captain an' com- 

 pany the boy is to guide us all to the camp, or 

 nigh enough so that the captain can string the 

 company all around 'em; an' as soon as it's light 

 enough we'll close in on 'em an' make sure that 

 nary one gits away. From what Jack says, they 

 are all pretty full of whiskey an' will be apt to 

 sleep sound, an' it'll be an easy matter to gobble 

 the whole caboodle." 



**Sh, sergeant," I said in a loud enough whisper 

 for the prisoner to hear. ** Don't talk so loud — 

 the jayhawker might hear you." 



"Oh, I don't think he could hear what I say, 

 'way out there; but it won't make much differ- 

 ence ef he does, fer he'll never live long enough to 

 profit by what he might hear, for he's pretty nigh 

 as good as a dead man right now. His time's 

 short." 



Tucker had dropped his head forward — in our 

 direction — as far as he could lean, and had closed 

 his eyes as if asleep, but was trying to catch very 

 word that was said. 



"But, sergeant," I asked Tom, "what will the 

 captain do with the jayhawkers after he takes 'em 

 in — take 'em back to Leavenworth as prisoners?" 



"Not much," replied the old man. "He has 

 his orders from General Hunter to exterminate 

 these jayhawkers wherever he can catch 'em — to 

 shoot or hang 'em; an' you know our old captain 

 is jest the man that'll take delight in carryin' them 



74 



