“I don’t know where they are now. Skinley was shot by a Yankee and killed.”
“This is bad business,” said Lynchman.
“No, it isn’t; it is all the better for us,” said De Banyan, stepping forward to the rescue.
“Perhaps it is, but I don’t see it,” added the captain, and truly it must have been rather difficult for him to see.
“You are duller than usual, captain,” continued De Banyan, with his easy assurance. “You believe in strategy, and look troubled at a difficulty like this?”
“Did you give Skinley’s horse to that nigger?” demanded Lynchman.
“Bah!” exclaimed De Banyan, with hearty disgust. “What matter whether he did or not? Are you going to settle a case of that sort now? I tell you it is all right.”
“What shall we do?”
“Do?” sneered the major. “We will capture the pay-master at Tantallon cross-roads, as we intended. We are not going to be thrown off the track by a little accident of this kind.”
“Of course not,” replied the guerilla, catching the inspiration of his apparently bolder companion.