"But, sergeant," I asked Tom, "what will the captain do with the jayhawkers after he takes 'em in—take 'em back to Leavenworth as prisoners?"
"Not much," replied the old man. "He has his orders from General Hunter to exterminate these jayhawkers wherever he can catch 'em—to shoot or hang 'em; an' you know our old captain is jest the man that'll take delight in carryin' them orders out to the letter. We've heard complaints enough from people along the road to satisfy the captain that these rescals are entitled to no mercy, an' you bet they'll get none from him."
"But, sergeant," inquired Jack, "what will we do with this feller? Hang him in the mornin'?"
"No; unless he should try to get away, according to my orders, we'll have to keep him till the company gits here an' then turn him over to the captain. It'll only delay his hanging a little while, for the captain'll fix him quick enough. But ef he should accidentally get loose an' run, why, shoot him, of course."
"Well, I'm sorry," said Jack, "that we can't hang him ourselves as soon as daylight comes, fer I promised him that, an' I always like to make my words good."
"Now," continued Tom, "I want you two men to keep a close watch of him an' give him no chance to give us the slip, for that'd spoil all our plans."
"We'll see that he don't get away."
"Well, as I've got to meet the captain an' company over at the store a little after midnight, I'll lie down an' try to git a little sleep, an' you an' Jack'll have to divide the time between you, guardin' the prisoner, for, of course, I'll not be able to get back here till some time after daylight, an' when I come it'll be with the company. I guess," added Tom after a pause, "I'd better ride the jayhawkers' horse over to meet the company; he'll make a better mount for me than one of our broncos."
"Yes, do so," said Jack; "he's a good one, I think." Then he added pleadingly: "But, sergeant, is they no way we could fix it so that me an' Peck could go with you on this round-up? S'pose we go out to the barn an' hang this feller to-night, or shoot him, an' say he tried to run—then we could all go."
"No," replied Tom decidedly, "that won't do at all. Remember the old saying, 'It's a good soldier that obeys orders,' an' we've got our orders to hold any and all prisoners we may chance to take and turn 'em over to the captain. Much as I'd like to have both of you along, you must stay an' take care of the camp an' prisoner. But I'll speak a good word to the captain fer you, an' I think I can safely promise that you'll both be made corporals as soon as there's vacancies in the company."