In half a moment Abe Lincoln and Harry had got up and captured the man and the loosed horse.
This is part of the entry which Samson made in his diary a week or so later:
"Harry put some wood on the fire while Abe and I led him up into the light. He was one of the dirty white men we had seen at the tavern.
"'I'll give ye four hundred dollars for a hogs in good Michigan money,' he said.
"'If ye can't steal a horse you're willin' to buy one,' I says.
"'No, sir. I only come to buy,' says he.
"I flopped him sudden and asked him why he was putting on the bridle.
"He owned up then. Said a man had hired him to steal the horse.
"'That man has got to have a hoss,' he said. 'He'll give ye any price ye want to ask. If you'll give me a few dollars I'll take ye to him.'
"'You go and bring him here and I'll talk to him,' I said.