Tom, while apparently listening to Jack, asked no questions and offered no suggestions but seemed wrapped in his own thoughts, and I knew, from often having seen him in a similar revery, that he was studying out some "strategy," as he would call it, to spring on our enemies, the jayhawkers. When Jack came to a pause Tom began: "Men, we can't afford to fool away much more time with these robbers. An idea struck me when I saw that big fellow tied to the wagon wheel, an' I've been ponderin' on it ever since, an' if we can carry out the scheme I think I see a way of running a bluff on him an' his gang that will scare 'em out of this neighborhood, an' that will be the next best thing to killing 'em an' we won't have to stay here. Now, listen an' I'll give you a hint of my plan. We'll go into the tent, where we'll be close enough to him for Tucker to hear what we're saying ef he listens right sharp, an' I know he'll do that. I'll give you two men a little talk that'll go to show that instead of our being what we've represented ourselves to be--that is, three wolf hunters goin' out to the buffalo range--we are really three soldiers disguised this way an' sent out here to do a little detective service on purpose to locate this gang of jayhawkers, an' that the company of cavalry to which we belong is coming on close behind us, ready to swoop down an' gobble up the gang as soon as I give 'em the word. An' then, when we git Tucker to take this all in we'll manage to let him escape an' carry this news to his gang; an' ef I ain't badly mistaken they'll pack up an' pull out from here as quick as they can get away. Now, mind you, I'm sergeant in charge." "Be the powers o' mud," exclaimed Jack. "That's a fine scheme if we can only make it work, ef it pans out the way you've planned it. Tom--or sergeant, I should have said--I'll always think that a great general was sp'ilt when they made only a private of you. Now go ahead with your rat killin' an' let's be tryin' it on." As our conference ended we strolled back to the tent and Tom began giving orders for guarding our prisoner through the night. "Now, men, we'll divide the night into three parts, like a 'running guard,' an' each one of us'll take a third of the night to stand post. An', mind you, don't go to sleep on post or the prisoner might git away. I guess we'll let Jack take the first watch, an' you, Peck, can come on for the middle tour, an' you may call me up for the last turn. Ef you think you won't git sleepy you might bring out one of the camp-chairs an' take a seat where you can keep a close watch of the prisoner; but ef you find yourself gittin' the least bit drowsy you must get up an' walk about, for it won't do for the sentry to go to sleep to-night." "Why, fellows," whined the big jayhawker, "you shorely don't mean to leave me in this fix all night, do you? I don't see how I can stan' it so long."