His confession revealed a depth of depravity that Luke Redman himself would have been ashamed of; and when I thought how narrowly Jerry had escaped being the victim of his cowardly vindictiveness, I had half a mind to pull him through the window into my prison, and give him the worst drubbing he ever had in his life.
I believe I should have done something to him, had I not at that moment heard a step on the stairs.
“Somebody’s coming,” whispered Tom. “I have more to tell you, if you have the patience to listen to it, and will see you again directly.”
As he said this, he drew back from the window and pushed the board to its place, leaving me in total darkness.
CHAPTER XIII.
TOM TELLS HIS STORY.
When Tom had disappeared, I settled back on my elbow, and listened to the approaching footsteps, which slowly mounted the creaking stairs and stopped at my door. A key turned in the lock, the light of a lantern streamed into the room, and Barney and Jake Redman entered, one carrying a plate filled with corn-bread and bacon, and the other holding a bundle of blankets under his arm.
“Wal, my young feller,” said Barney, with an awkward attempt to appear good-natured and patronizing, “how do you feel about this time? Tired, hungry an’ sleepy, I reckon. We’ve brought you a bite of somethin’, an’ a blanket to lay down on. You’d best do some good eatin’ an’ sleepin’ while you are about it, ’cause we’ve got a long ways to ride to-night.”
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“That’s somethin’ fur you to find out. You’ll know soon enough.”
With this assurance, the Dragoons deposited the lantern, blankets and plate on the floor, and went out, locking the door after them.