I could see that our prisoner was taking a keen interest in Tom's remarks, craning his neck forward and turning an ear toward the tent door in an attitude of attentive listening. "I have arranged with the boy," continued the old veteran, "who carried my message back to the captain, to guide the company up to the store an' to meet me there not later than two o'clock to-night. An' this boy has been down to the jayhawkers' camp an' knows the lay of the land all around there; an' when I join the captain an' company the boy is to guide us all to the camp, or nigh enough so that the captain can string the company all around 'em; an' as soon as it's light enough we'll close in on 'em an' make sure that nary one gits away. From what Jack says, they are all pretty full of whiskey an' will be apt to sleep sound, an' it'll be an easy matter to gobble the whole caboodle." "Sh, sergeant," I said in a loud enough whisper for the prisoner to hear. "Don't talk so loud--the jayhawker might hear you." "Oh, I don't think he could hear what I say, 'way out there; but it won't make much difference ef he does, fer he'll never live long enough to profit by what he might hear, for he's pretty nigh as good as a dead man right now. His time's short." Tucker had dropped his head forward--in our direction--as far as he could lean, and had closed his eyes as if asleep, but was trying to catch every word that was said. "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."