THE WOLF HUNTERS 

 camp before that company of cavalry surrounds 



em. 



After carrying out Tom's orders we all turned 

 in and slept till daylight, when the veteran's 

 usual morning call brought back the recollection 

 of the recent exciting incidents. 



After breakfast Tom rode over to the store to 

 see what he could learn of the jayhawkers. 



Before he started: Jack asked, "Tom, what are 

 we to do with Tucker's horse .^" 



*'Why, Jack, ef no more rightful owner than 

 Tucker turns up to claim him the horse is fairly 

 yours by right of capture." 



"I've been thinkin' it over," said Jack, "an' 

 come to this conclusion: We know that these jay- 

 hawkers make a business of robbing people, taking 

 all the good horses an' mules they come across; it's 

 more'n likely that this Tucker has stole this fine 

 horse from somebody hereabouts, an' I think the 

 square thing to do will be to leave word with the 

 ol' storekeeper that in case any man comes along 

 claiming the horse, an' can prove his property, 

 we'll give him up to the rightful owner. If the 

 owner should show up in a day or two he can 

 follow us up, prove ownership, an' take his horse. 

 Ef he shouldn't show up until after we've got out 

 to our winter's camp, or well on the road toward 

 it, we'll leave word with the storekeeper to say 

 that we'll be comin' back this way in the spring 

 an' we'll fix the business up then." 



82 



