“There ain’t no use in saying we didn’t,” replied Smirker. “But I was hired to help in that work.”
“Oh, of course. Men always have some excuse for doing wrong. Well, that old fellow’s body may be at the bottom of that gorge now, but I don’t believe it is. There is something that looks wonderfully like him walking about above ground this very day. If you want to see it we can show it to you.”
“You needn’t put yourselves to no trouble,” whined Smirker. “Ask me all the questions you want to and turn me loose.”
“The old chap walks around of nights, too,” continued White-horse Fred, in a tone of voice that made the cold chills creep all over his listener, “assisting his friends in every possible way and executing all sorts of vengeance on his enemies. How would you feel if you should wake up about midnight and see him coming toward you just this way?”
Fred threw himself into a crouching posture, similar to that which Smirker had assumed a few minutes before, drew his head down between his shoulders, distorted his features, opened his eyes and mouth to their widest extent, spread out his fingers like the claws of a wild beast, and crept slowly toward the robber.
“Don’t!” cried Smirker.
“We’re goin’ to take you right whar he was seed last,” said Silas, who believing that time enough had been wasted, thought it best to bring Fred’s pleasantries to an end; “and if you don’t tell us what we want to know we’ll show him to you as sure as you’re a hoss-thief. Put the saddles on the critters, Fred, while I tie this feller.”
“I will tell you what you want to know now,” said Smirker, who continued to exhibit the most abject terror.
“Yes; but you see we want to take you to a place whar we can keep you safe till we find out whether or not you tell us the truth.”