So thoroughly convinced were the men of the guilt and complicity of the prisoners with the road-agent gang, that every man passed immediately to the right.
The culprits started immediately, under the escort of seven men and a leader, in the direction of Virginia City. Two hours afterwards they arrived at Lorrain’s ranche, where they were joined at sundown by the other members of the company, who, after a brief consultation, rode on to Virginia City. After they had gone, the leader lay down in his blanket on the parlor floor, to snatch a few hours of repose. Precisely at ten o’clock, he was awakened by a slight shake, and the words,
“The hour has arrived. We mean business, and are waiting for you.”
He arose and went to the bar-room, where Brown and “Red” lay in the corner asleep. “Red” was the first to awaken. Rising to his feet, he addressed the leader in a sad and despondent tone.
“You have treated me like a gentleman,” said he. “I know that my time has come. I am going to be hanged.”
“That’s pretty rough, ‘Red’” interjected the leader.
“Yes. It’s pretty rough, but I merited it years ago. What I want to say is, that I know all about this gang. There are men in it who deserve death more than I do; but I should die happy, if I could see them hanged, or know it would be done. I don’t say this to get off. I don’t want to get off.”
“It will be better for you, ‘Red,’” said the Vigilantes, “at this time to give us all the information in your possession, if only for the sake of your kind. Times have been very hard. Men have been shot down in broad daylight, not alone for money, or even hatred, but for mere luck and sport, and this must have a stop put to it.”
“I agree to it all,” replied “Red.” “No poor country was ever cursed with a more bloodthirsty or meaner pack of villains than this,—and I know them all.”
On being urged by the leader to furnish their names, which he said should be taken down, “Red” told him that Henry Plummer was chief of the band; Bill Bunton, stool pigeon and second in command; George Brown, secretary; Sam Bunton, roadster; Cyrus Skinner, fence, spy, and roadster; George Shears, horse-thief and roadster; Frank Parish, horse-thief and roadster; Hayes Lyons, telegraph man and roadster; Bill Hunter, telegraph man and roadster; Ned Ray, council-room keeper at Bannack City; George Ives, Stephen Marshland, Dutch John (Wagner), Alex Carter, Whiskey Bill (Graves), Johnny Cooper, Buck Stinson, Mexican Frank, Bob Zachary, Boone Helm, Clubfoot George (Lane), Billy Terwiliger, Gad Moore, roadsters.