“Listen!” he said. “I am not a horse thief, but I was put here charged with stealing the horse of Colonel Owen.”
“Just as I said, gentlemen,” chimed in the inebriate.
“Then we've got the wrong one!” said the leader. “Here, you can go!”
“We must have you!” went on the leader, approaching Walter's cell.
“What do you want to do with me?” asked Walter, with sinking heart.
“String you up! That's the way we serve hoss thieves!”
“Gentlemen!” said Walter, “you are making a terrible mistake.
“Didn't you say just now you was the thief?”
“No; I said I was put in here charged with horse-stealing.”
An assault was made on the door of his cell, and within three minutes Walter was dragged out.