Tom heard of this brutal plan, and resolved to see what he could do to upset the arrangements. He and Tim talked it over, but could arrive at no safe way to set the Indian free. Any friendly move on their part would have brought trouble upon their own heads, and they were still seeking for a feasible scheme when the company took up the march, the Indian in their midst, with his hands tied behind him.
"Ividently they are not going to have the hanging hereabouts," said Tim.
"No, they must be hard to suit," replied Tom. "There are dozens of big trees all around, and yet there are none that please them."
"Oi have an oidea that it's some showy place the villains are afther."
"Probably," agreed Tom. "They want to make an example so that every Indian that goes through these forsaken parts can see."
"Hi there, boys, the major wants you back at the end of the line," called a trooper to Tim and Tom, just then.
"All right," responded Tom, as they turned to obey the summons.
"Phat can the ould feller be afther?" queried Tim.
"Don't know," answered Tom. "But we'll see in a minute."