“So they’ve got houses there!” He turned to Deland again. “Get the horses ready, Deland, and this fellow is to be put on mine. I’ll sit behind him, and make him guide the horse and pilot us. And, if he tries any treachery, I’ll shoot a hole through him.”
His voice quivered. He was in deadly earnest.
“Correct ye aire,” said Deland, and he brought up the horses.
“Now, I’m going to untie your feet, so that you can get into that saddle,” said Denton; “but, if you try to get away, I’ll pot you with this pistol. Understand?”
He cast off the cords that held Hatfield’s feet, and the rascal mounted to the saddle agilely enough.
“Now, Deland, give me a lift.”
Deland gave him the “lift,” and Denton secured a seat behind the prisoner.
“Now, Deland, tie his feet under the horse’s belly.”
Hatfield did not like this, but he could not help it, for he had a healthy fear of that big revolver; and his own weapons had been taken away from him.
Deland also mounted, and they were ready to start.