To render his authority secure and to prevent desertion and treachery, Captain Jack had established among his regular followers a sort of bond of union secured by an oath of vengeance.
Every member of his new gang convicted of having betrayed their associates, or of refusing an order issued by Captain Jack, was pitilessly massacred, and the executioners selected from among themselves.
It was in this manner that a poor lad suffered for a crime against the association.
He gave, thoughtlessly, no doubt, some wrong information respecting some farm they were going to attack.
He was seized, and carried to the camp of Captain Jack.
His accuser was no less than old Bates, who had stolen the sails of a windmill for some purpose, and the boy had made known this trick to Captain Jack.
Some time afterwards the boy spoke rather freely of the projects of the gang upon the farm of a very poor man near by.
Thereupon it was resolved he should die.
Captain Jack pronounced sentence upon him, and he was beaten to death with sticks.
The terror inspired by Captain Jack had hitherto deterred the peasants from giving information to the magistrates of the murder of this lad.