“Well, now, I’ll be shot!” said Dan, opening his eyes and rubbing them, while Cale made a clutch for the revolver. “It was good of you not to go away.”
“You can thank yourself for it,” said Leon. “If I could have got away I’d had my revolver in my hands, and then you would have gone to Ellisville.”
“Yes; and what would we be doing all that time?” said Cale.
“You shut up!” answered Dan. “You said you could watch him, and so you did. You went fast asleep watching him.”
“I only just closed my eyes, that’s all,” protested Cale. “If he’d a-made any move—”
“Oh, shut up, and let’s be moving,” interrupted Dan. “The sooner we get him where our officers are, the sooner we’ll be rid of him and get something to eat.”
Leon found that he was somewhat stiff when he came to get upon his feet, but before they had gone half a mile he stepped off with his accustomed free stride. Dan led the way with the revolver in his hand, and he was considerate enough to keep the bushes from striking his prisoner in the face. Leon knew how far it was to the river, but the distance seemed to lengthen out wonderfully since he last passed that way. He kept a bright look-out in the hope that he would meet some of the Union men, but in this he was disappointed.
“Now, right up that way, not more than a mile, is a company of your fellows stationed there to watch the bridge,” said Dan, stopping at length. “How much would you give to holler and bring them down here?”
“Don’t talk to him that way,” exclaimed Cale, disturbed by the thought. “The first thing you know he will holler.”
“Then this revolver will settle his hash,” said Dan, savagely. “Let him holler, if he wants to.”