"True, Hank, true," said Mr. Willett as he stroked his brow. "Since I have come to feel that my boy is dead, life has lost all its charms for me and death its terrors. What is there to live for since he is gone? Nothing!" and with a sigh of resignation Mr. Willett let his hands fall heavily by his side.
Badger, judging by his conduct on this occasion, must have had no little experience in lynching affairs. He appeared before the prisoners with ropes, and as resistance would have been useless, Mr. Willett and Hank permitted the heartless wretch to tie their hands tightly behind their backs.
This over, he went to the members of the vigilance committee, who were engaged in earnest conversation outside the tent.
Having told them what he had done, Badger asked for instructions.
"We're in a kind of a fix about this onpleasant business," said one.
"Wot's the trouble?" asked Badger.
"Thar ain't no trees big enough for the purpose within twenty miles of this," said the man.
"Then why can't they be blindfolded and shot?" asked Badger.
"'Coz the judge said to hang 'em."
"Wa'al, I don't think thar'll be any trouble in gettin' him to change his mind," said Badger. "You see he must 'commydate the sentence to the place."