Part 25 (1/2)
”I know it won't! I know it won't!” said the prisoner. ”Remember, I am not asking for mercy; only listen to what I have to say, and when you have heard all you will believe me.”
Here the stage drew up in front of the Grundy home-stead, an old manor, approached by an avenue of silver poplars, and surrounded by a wide veranda. The Squire bade the pa.s.sengers good-bye, a.s.suring them at the same time that they were perfectly safe in the company of so brave a man as Sheriff Lane.
”What I have to say is this,” resumed the prisoner, when the stage was under way again. ”We are not highway robbers. For years we've lived in this part of the country, worked and trapped, and injured no one. But a scoundrel and thief, whom we call Tom the Tinker, persuaded us to go into the whisky business. For three years we made whisky in a cave on the bank of the Beech Fork, about six miles from here. Then we were caught; at least, we thought so. Our object in stopping the stage to-day was to see whether any notice had been sent to Squire Grundy or the sheriff about the matter. You notice that we did not attempt to rob the pa.s.sengers. Instead of finding the letters, we met the Squire and yourself. I did not know at the time that you were sheriff, but, sheriff or not, we had you just where we wanted you until my pistol went off and fell from my hand. How it happened, I don't know. We're your prisoners, and'll be sent up for five years. But we must have Tom the Tinker with us.”
”What made you suspect that your plans were discovered?” asked the sheriff.
”We sent six barrels to Bardstown.”
”When?”
”The day after the news from New Orleans.”
”And the driver was foller'd?”
”Yes.”
”And left that there team on the road?”
”Yes; he jumped from the wagon when the men came near him, and made his way back to the cave on foot.”
”Where's the wagon?”
”Don't know, sir.”
”I've been lookin' for that there wagon for two weeks.”
”The wagon belonged to the Tinker,” said the prisoner. ”He is the cause of our ruin, and he must come to the penitentiary with us.”
He then proceeded to give the sheriff an accurate description of the cave, with minute details in regard to the path which led to it. The Tinker must be arrested while actually engaged in making whisky; this would insure him a sentence of ten years in the penitentiary.
[Ill.u.s.tration: _Ground plan of Cave._--The heavy line marked _h, h_, represents the hill running along the Beech Fork, turning abruptly at a and following a small creek.
1. The two giant rocks.
2. Outer chamber.
3. Inner chamber (where the boys spent the night).
4. Pa.s.sages through which Stayford led the boys.
5. Secret pa.s.sages which the boys did not see.
6. Secret entrances.
7. The ”hold out.” ]
All that day Mr. Lane talked with the prisoner about the capture of Tom the Tinker and the destruction of the illicit distillery. The second prisoner spoke but little. Only after it was quite dark, and the stage approached Louisville, did he remove his mask and make known to his captor who he was. It was a painful task for the good-natured sheriff to hand over the jolly fiddler and marksman to the jail authorities; yet this was his duty, and he did not shrink from it.
”I'll expect to see the Tinker with us before two weeks have pa.s.sed,”
said Stayford, as the sheriff turned to leave the jail.