“There must be some mistake,” answered the express official; “he had three when he crossed the Alabama River.” “Rube says he has sold the other two,” was the answer. “Rube never sells pistols,” replied the official, and knowing from the reports received that Rube always carried a sack, the inquiry was: “What’s in the sack?” “Nothing but provisions,” answered McDuffie. The official then instructed McDuffie to handcuff and shackle the prisoner, put him in a cell of the jail and place half dozen men on guard. McDuffie replied: “There are forty men on guard.” Indeed, the whole town of Linden surrounded the jail, and McDuffie’s answer was not, perhaps, exaggerated. When Rube’s supper was brought his hands were untied that he might eat and they were not again manacled. Rube sat and joked with his guards and visitors, entertaining them with his droll humor, which seemed never to forsake him. His shoes were badly worn, and a visitor remarking it, said: “Rube, your shoes are badly run down--you need a new pair.” “Yes,” replied Rube, “some people always praise their shoes up, but I always run mine down.” One by one the visitors dropped out, and at midnight John McDuffie, Jesse Hildreth and Frank Marshall were left in charge of the prisoner. Carter, not feeling well, had retired to Glass’ store, just across the street from the jail. He had possession of Rube’s rifle and money. George Ford, in whose cabin the capture occurred, found, after the departure of the prisoner, a greasy cloth sack, and knowing it to be the property of Rube, carried it to Linden, arriving some half hour after the prisoner. He deposited the sack on the steps of the court-house and reported the fact to the colored men, who informed McDuffie. It was said to contain provisions. About four o’clock A. M. Rube complained that he was hungry. McDuffie said: “You will have to await the usual hour for breakfast. I can not get anything to eat now.” “Where is my grub sack?” said Rube. “George left it on the court-house steps,” said Frank. “Mr. McDuffie, please send Frank for it. I have some ginger snaps and some candy in it, and I will give the boys some; I reckon they are hungry, too,” said Rube. McDuffie consented, and when Frank returned he did not even look to see what was handed Rube. For full half an hour the wily prisoner sat eating ginger snaps and candy from the sack, which he occasionally shared with the colored men. Watching his chance, Rube suddenly pulled from the sack one of his trusty pistols, and covering McDuffie, who sat only about ten feet away, said: “If you make a move I will kill you.” McDuffie’s pistol was lying in a chair beside him. Rube, turning to Jesse, said: “Hand me that pistol quick, or I will shoot your head off.” Jesse tremblingly obeyed, and Rube covered all three of the guards with the two pistols. He then bade Jesse unlock his shackles. This being done, he said: “Now put them on McDuffie.”