“I will take the tail.”
“All right; but you must give me your word of honor that you will hang on.”
“Like grim death,” answered Latham.
“Come, then, I have fooled away too much time already.”
Marching his prisoner up to where his horse was tethered, Calhoun took Latham’s sword and carbine which hung to the saddle and pitched them into the river after the revolver.
Mounting the horse, Calhoun said, “Now, no fooling. The slightest attempt on your part to escape, and I shall shoot you without compunction of conscience.”
“I am not fool enough to run when there is a revolver at my head,” growled Latham.
“Nevertheless you will bear watching. I am of the opinion you are a slippery customer. You just walk by my side here until we reach deep water.”
They entered the river. Latham wading quietly by the side of the horse, until the water became so deep the horse began to plunge.
“Now, grab his tail,” commanded Calhoun, and he watched Latham until he had taken a firm hold of the horse’s tail and was in water beyond his depth.