"Stop, boys, and attend to business!" he sung out.
Tim and Fritz were accustomed to obeying him, and ceasing hostilities at once, they rose, and the old sailor asked solemnly:
"Goin' ter stop playin' if I stops yarnin'?"
"For sure, Mikes," replied Fritz. "Put it dere."
They shook hands and that settled the matter.
Work on the electric stage was resumed, and by noon they had her in perfect condition for her long journey.
When they entered the house they met Jack's beautiful wife and bright little son.
Answers had arrived from Missouri.
The governor wrote Jack the following lines:
"Mr. Jack Wright,–In reply to your letter I beg to assure you of my heartfelt gratitude for your kind offer to try to apprehend the James Boys and break up their villainous gang. These outlaws have too long been a terror to the community, and there is not a decent man, woman or child in the state who would not be glad to hear of the extermination of the gang. The list of crimes for which the James Boys are amenable is too long and too horrible to enumerate here in detail. Let it suffice that there are charges of every description in the category against them, including many atrocious murders.