“No excuses. But if you ever hope to rise higher in the band, you must break yourself of this habit. Only for one thing, you would have been discharged from the league, long ago.”
“And that is—”
“We know you would betray us before the week was out. There—you need not deny it. I know you too well. I merely mentioned this now because I believe you need a hint of the kind. You are watched—I tell you that much. You remember Hans Koch? It has not been so long since that you should forget his fate. Take care that we do not have to deal with you in that manner.”
“What have I done that you should threaten me in this manner, Captain Morton? Have I ever proved false—haven’t I always obeyed orders?”
“There—don’t get your back up, Jack Colton. What I say is for your own good. If I am not mistaken you will be tested to-night, more severely than you think. See to it that you do not fail. If you do—you die!”
“I don’t understand you.”
“You will, before long. That will do, Thompson. We only require a little light, and some prying eye might catch the glimmer. Now, men,” he added, after a brief pause, “gather round and listen well to what I say. We have work to do this night—some of you may know what I mean, but most of you do not. Listen well, but keep silence.
“First, a word as to the objects of our league, then as to our laws. It will do no harm to freshen your memory on these points. We all know our calling—our name, for it is confiscation—others call it stealing; but that don’t matter. Among ourselves we are “Night Hawks.” To others we are simple cattle-drovers, mustangers, or quiet settlers.
“We have been organized some six months. In that time our profits have been nearly two thousand dollars per man: a little better than simple farming. But it will be better still, now that our markets are fairly opened, and a chain established along which we can ship our plunder without chance of being detected. All this, however, you know.
“Now about our laws. The first is—death to all traitors. The next—death to those who stubbornly refuse to perform the duty assigned to them. Our motto is, blood for blood. If a member of our league is taken prisoner, we swear to free him, though it cost the lives of half our number. If one is killed, we swear to avenge him.