"Answer!" thundered Huffman.
"Red Bill promised to take them to Frankfort," he at length managed to say.
"And you have just admitted that his promise was worth nothing. Where did this thing occur? Where did you leave Red Bill and his prisoners?"
demanded Huffman.
"About three miles from here," answered Evans.
"Lead us to the place at once."
"I dare not," he whimpered; "Red Bill will kill me if I give away the place of rendezvous. We are under a terrible oath not to reveal it."
"You need not fear Red Bill," answered Captain Huffman, in ominous tones, "for I am going to hang you. Boys, bring the rope."
"Mercy! Mercy!" gasped the shivering wretch.
"Then lead us to the place where you left Red Bill, and that quickly."
"My wound," he whined, pointing to his leg.
"Bind up his leg," said Huffman to one of his men.
The wound was rudely dressed, and then Evans was placed on a horse in front of a st.u.r.dy trooper.
"Now take us to the place where you left Red Bill, by the shortest and quickest route; you say it is three miles. If we don"t reach it in half an hour, I will hang you like a dog. And," continued Huffman, to the trooper in front of whom Evans was riding, "blow out his brains at the first sign of treachery."
For answer the trooper touched his revolver significantly.
After riding swiftly for about two miles, Evans bade them turn into a path which led into the woods. The way became rough and rocky, and their progress was necessarily slower. Evans was in mortal terror lest the half-hour would be up before they could reach the place.
"It is right down thar," he at length said, pointing down a ravine which led to a stream.
The place was admirably adapted for concealment. On a small level place surrounded by high cliffs stood a tumble-down house. It was shut in from view from every point except the single one on which they stood.
"Leave the horses here," whispered Huffman, "I think I caught sight of some one down there. We will creep up on them unawares."
Leaving the horses in charge of ten men, Captain Huffman, with the rest of his force, silently crept down the gorge.
[Ill.u.s.tration: THEY SILENTLY CREPT DOWN THE GORGE.]
We will now turn to Calhoun. After he was captured and heard his men cheering as they made the charge, his heart stood still, for he expected they would all be killed. He was, therefore, greatly surprised when the firing ceased, and his captors came running back, and hurried him through the woods at a break-neck speed. The rapid pace was kept up for about three miles, when finding they were not pursued, they adopted a more leisurely gait. Of this Calhoun was glad, for he was entirely out of breath. The leader of the gang, and another, probably the second in command, had appropriated the horses, and Calhoun and Nevels had been forced to walk, or rather run.
Once Calhoun ventured to ask the result of the fight, and was told that all of his men had been killed. This he knew to be a lie, as his captors would not have retreated so hastily if they had achieved so sweeping a victory. He asked another question, but was roughly told to shut up.
When the rendezvous was reached Red Bill for the first time noticed his prisoners closely. He started when he saw Calhoun, and then turning to his gang, said, "I reckon we had better string these fellows up, and get them out of the way."
"String us up," boldly answered Calhoun, "and I would not give a cent for your worthless lives; Morgan would never rest, as long as one of you enc.u.mbered the earth."
"Who is afraid of Morgan!" exclaimed Red Bill, with an oath. "He and the rest of you are nuthin" but hoss-thieves an" yo" will all hang one of these days. I know yo", my young rooster, you air the son of that ole Rebil, Judge Pennington of Danville. I hev it in fur him."
"And I know you now," hotly replied Calhoun, forgetting the danger he was in. "You used to live in Danville, and went by the name of Red Bill. Your popularity consisted in the fact that you were known as an adept chicken-thief. My father once sent you to jail for pet.i.t larceny."
Bill"s face grew still redder. "Yo" lie, yo" dog!" he hissed. "Yo" father did send me to jail, but I war innocent, an" he knowed it. But he thought I war only po" white trash, while he is an aristocrat. I swore to hev my revenge, an" I will hev it. Boys, what do we-uns do with hoss-thieves in ole Kentuck?"
"Hang "em," exclaimed four or five voices.
"An" we-uns will hang this crowin" bantam. I will learn him to call me a chicken-thief, cla.s.sin" me with n.i.g.g.e.rs!" exclaimed Red Bill, with fury.
"What will we-uns do with the other feller?" asked one of the men.
"Hang him too. Dead men don"t talk."
But some of the gang began to demur over this summary proceeding, saying that the Federal authorities would deal severely with them if it became known they murdered prisoners in cold blood. Not only this, but Morgan had captured hundreds of Home Guards and paroled them. But if they should execute one of his prominent officers, he would show no mercy.
The discussion became so hot, they came nearly fighting among themselves.
At last one of them said, "I am tired of the hull business. I am goin"
home."
"An" I!" "An" I!" cried a dozen voices.
It was finally agreed that the gang should disband, only five agreeing to remain with Red Bill. Being allowed to keep the plunder and horses they had captured, these men, with Red Bill, promised to deliver Calhoun and Nevels to the Federal authorities at Frankfort, unharmed.
Calhoun and Nevels had watched this quarrel among their captors with the utmost anxiety, knowing that upon the result depended their lives. It was with the deepest concern that they beheld the members of the party depart, leaving them with Red Bill and his five boon companions.
No sooner were they alone than the six, with oaths and jeers, tied their prisoners securely to trees, drawing the cords so closely that they cut into the flesh. Although the pain was terrible, neither Calhoun nor Nevels uttered a moan. After the prisoners were thus securely tied, Red Bill produced a bottle of whisky, and the six commenced drinking, apparently taking no notice of their captives. The whole six were soon fiendishly drunk.
Staggering up to Calhoun, Red Bill growled: "Think we-uns goin" to take you to Frankfort, I reckin"."
"That is what you promised," replied Calhoun, calmly.
"Well, we-uns ain"t. We-uns goin" to hang ye!"
Calhoun turned pale, then controlling himself by a powerful effort, he replied: "Do the Home Guards of Kentucky violate every principle of honorable warfare?"
"d.a.m.n honorable warfare! Yo-uns called me a chicken-thief; I call you a hoss-thief. Hoss-thieves air hanged. Ha! ha! the son of Judge Pennington strung up fo" stealin" hosses! Won"t that sound nice?" and he burst into a devilish laugh, in which he was joined by the others.
Calhoun saw there was no hope. It was hard to die such an ignominious death. "Oh!" he thought, "if I had only been permitted to die amid the flame and smoke of battle. Such a death is glorious; but this--" A great lump arose in his throat, and came near choking him.
Gulping it back, he whispered to Nevels: "Don"t show the white feather.
Let them see how Morgan"s men can die."
The brave fellow nodded; he could not speak. He had a wife and child at home.
They were unbound from the tree, but their arms and limbs were kept tightly pinioned. Ropes were brought and tied around their necks, and the free ends thrown over a limb of the tree.
"Can ye tie a true hangman"s knot, Jack?" asked Red of the villain who was adjusting the rope around Calhoun"s neck.
"That I can, Red," he answered, with a chuckling laugh. "It"s as neat a job as eny sheriff can do."