Part 29 (1/2)

”But how about Buck Tom?” asked one who was not quite so depraved as the others.

”What's the use o' askin'?” said Jake. ”It's all up with him, don't you see? Besides, he's safe enough. They'd never have the heart to hang a dying man.”

”An' Leather!” cried another. ”We mustn't quit Leather. He's game for many a fight yet. Come, Leather; we'll help you along, for they're sure to string you up on the nearest tree.”

”Don't trouble yourself about me,” said Leather, looking round, for he still kneeled beside his old friend, ”I don't intend to escape. Look to yourselves, boys, an' leave us alone.”

”Unless you're all tired o' life you'll quit here an' skip for the woods,” said Jake, as, turning round, he hurriedly left the place.

The others did not hesitate, but followed him at once, leaving Buck Tom, and his friend to s.h.i.+ft for themselves.

During all this scene Hunky Ben had been intently gazing and listening-- chiefly the latter. When the outlaws filed past him he found it extremely difficult to avoid putting a bullet into the Flint, but he restrained himself because of what yet remained to be done.

As soon as the outlaws were well out of sight Ben arose and prepared for action. First of all he tightened his belt. Then he pulled the hood of his coat well over his head, so that it effectually concealed his face, and, still further to accomplish the end in view, he fastened the hood in front with a wooden pin. Proceeding to the stable he found, as he had hoped and expected, that the outlaws had left one or two horse-cloths behind in their flight. In one of these he enveloped his person in such a way as to render it unrecognisable. Then he walked straight into the cave, and, without a word of warning, threw his strong arms a round Shank Leather and lifted him off the ground.

Of course Leather shouted and struggled at first, but as well might a kitten have struggled in the grip of a grizzly bear. In his worn condition he felt himself to be utterly powerless. Buck Tom made a feeble effort to rise and help him, but the mere effort caused him to fall back with a groan of helpless despair.

Swiftly his captor bore Leather up the side of the hill till he got behind a clump of trees, into the heart of which he plunged, and then set his burden down on his feet. At the same time, throwing back his hood and flinging away the horse-cloth, he stood up and smiled.

”Hunky Ben, or his ghost!” exclaimed Shank, forgetting his indignation in his amazement.

”You're right, young man, though you've only see'd me once that I know of. But most men that see me once are apt to remember me.”

”Well, Hunky,” said Leather, while the indignation began to return, ”you may think this very amusing, but it's mean of a big strong man like you to take advantage of a fellow that's as weak as a child from wounds an'

fever. Lend me one o' your six-shooters, now, so as we may stand on somewhat more equal terms and--but a truce to boasting! I'm sure that you wouldn't keep smiling at me like a Ches.h.i.+re cat if there wasn't something behind this.”

”You're right, Mr Leather,” said Ben, becoming at once grave and earnest. ”There _is_ somethin' behind it--ay, an' somethin' before it too. So much, that I have barely time to tell 'ee. So, listen wi' both ears. There's a bunch o' men an' troops close to the Trap even now, on their way to visit your cave. If they find you--you know what that means?”

”Death,” said Leather quietly.

”Ay, death; though ye don't desarve it,” said Ben.

”But I _do_ deserve it,” returned Shank in the same quiet voice.

”Well, may-hap you do,” rejoined the scout coolly, ”but not, so far as I know, in connection wi' your present company. Now, there's Buck Tom--”

”Ay, what of him?” asked Shank, anxiously.

”Well, in the nat'ral course o' timings, death is comin' to him too, an'

that'll save him from bein' strung up--for they're apt to do that sort o' thing hereaway in a loose free-an-easy style that's awkward sometime.

I was within an inch of it myself once, all through a mistake--I'll tell 'ee about that when I've got more time, maybe. Well, now, I'm keen to save you an' Buck Tom if I can, and what I want you to understand is, that if you expect me to help you at a time when you stand considerable in need o' help, you'll have to do what I tell 'ee.”

”And what would you have me do?” asked Shank, with a troubled look.

”Remain here till I come for 'ee, and when you meet me in company say nothin' about havin' met me before.”

”Can I trust you, Hunky Ben?” said Shank, looking at him earnestly.

”If you _can't_ trust me, what d'ye propose to do?” asked the scout with a grin.