THE WOLF HUNTERS 



the jayhawkers' horse over to meet the company; 

 he'll make a better mount for me than one of our 

 broncos." 



*'Yes, do so," said Jack; ''he's a good one, I 

 think." Then he added pleadingly: "But, ser- 

 geant, is they no way we could fix it so that me 

 an' Peck could go with you on this round-up? 

 S'pose we go out to the barn an' hang this feller 

 to-night, or shoot him, an' say he tried to run — 

 then we could all go." 



"No," replied Tom decidedly, "that won't do 

 at all. Remember the old saying, 'It's a good sol- 

 dier that obeys orders,' an' we've got our orders 

 to hold any and all prisoners we may chance to 

 take and turn 'em over to the captain. Much as 

 rd like to have both of you along, you must stay 

 an' take care of the camp an' prisoner. But TU 

 speak a good word to the captain fer 3^ou, an' I 

 think I can safely promise that you'll both be 

 made corporals as soon as there's vacancies in the 

 company." 



"Well," said Jack sorrowfully, "I suppose we'll 

 have to stan' it; but I hate like blazes to break my 

 promise to the jayhawker, for I told him he could 

 depend on bein' hung at daylight." 



"But, sergeant," I put in, "won't the jayhawk- 

 ers down at their camp, waiting for their chief, 

 suspect something wrong when he don't show 

 up?" 



"No, it ain't likely. They were all pretty full 



76 



