"But if I send a man down the mountain," answered the revenue agent, "some moonshiner might shoot him on the way."
"Very probably," answered the lieutenant. "That's a risk that men engaged in the revenue service are bound to take, I suppose. But if you request it, I will send a squad of four soldiers to guard your man on the way down and to protect the pack train on its way back."
Manifestly the revenue officer was anxious to "git down out'n the mountings," but he feared the report which in that case the angry and disgusted lieutenant would probably make, even more than he feared the moonshiners. Still he hesitated to detail one of his men to go down the mountain under escort of a corporal and three men.
This matter being still unsettled, the lieutenant said:
"Now, what next?"
"How do you mean?"
"Why, what is your next move?"
"Well, I suppose we must remain here till the provisions come, if we decide to send for them," answered the man.
The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders, and for the moment remained silent. Presently he said:
"Of course that's for you to determine. But for myself I can't see why you should deliberately waste two days giving the moonshiners time in which to rip out their stills and bury them where even your sagacity will never find them. I don't see why you shouldn't utilize the time of waiting for supplies in finding and capturing stills. However that is none of my business. Will you tell me where you wish to make your headquarters, so that I may pitch my camp accordingly?"