Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders Among the Kentucky Mountaineers

demanded Hippy Winga

manded a surly v

full consciousness. A dim light filtering through an opening that he could not see, for it was behind him, showed Lieut

et here?" he v

stepped up and gave the capti

ng is a dangerous habit to get into. One of these days you wi

to keep still? Want ano

into gloomy silence, you might tell me what the big idea is. Who or

ons, an' if ye don't keep still Ah'll shoot ye

're right," agreed H

guard would go out for a short time, and, returning, would stand peerin

d a faint recollection of being jolted, which probably was when he was being carried away on a horse, but that was the extent of his recollections. He did know that his head hurt him terribly and th

ng him out, threw him over the back of a pony just ahead of the saddle, as if he were a bag of meal. When the ri

folded, could make out nothing of his surroundings, but he realized that there were trees all about him,

to smell, I'll break my bonds and ru

tangle himself as best he could. By violent winking and twisting his head from side to side he was able, by tilting his

ation had to do with him, Hippy Wingate knew from the frequent gestures in hi

r to him and demanded to

briefly. One of

a hoss thief

steal a horse and

, anybody who'll give ye a c

own. I don't need any one to giv

ese mountains with ye, and then quit

e Harlowe Gray, who leads our party of Riders. H

busi

a survey for

saw instantly from the exclamations that the mountaineers uttered under t

all workin' fer the gov'me

e. Is there anything else that you ruffians wish t

other feller h

headed for now," answered

the captors in a low tone. "We'll bag the bunch of 'em. Shore ye ain't go

N

sweep an' tell us the whole business. If ye don't we'll jest blow yer fool haid off an' chuck

ant Wingate. "Who do you think I am, anyway? What do you think I am? Come, now, s

t Hippy got. "We're goin' t' take ye away from here an' put a gu

ors turned away for further conference. "D

y gave him more concern than the knowledge that he was a prisoner in the hands of despe

leep, but his sleep was brief. He was roughly yanked to his feet, and, at the point of a rifle, driven deeper into the forest. His guards did not halt until daybreak. T

" reminded Hippy as th

ed one of the

e tree down. It might

st. Bacon and coffee was their meal, and Hippy Wingate, now without his blindfold, was forced to sit

cup of water, and, lighting their pipes, sat down to talk,

s "Bat Spurgeon" and "Jed Thompson" mentioned, but they conveyed nothing to him beyond the mere names. The voices of his captors and his own weariness finall

ast," said Hippy mockingly. "Is thi

went away leaving Hippy gazing after him,

s captivity. With it came the cook fire and again the agonizing odors of coffee and bacon. With it, to

a sound, L

ithout in the least changing his

light of the fire will be in their eyes, and, unless they get up and stare, they will not be a

Who ar

u, I said. Keep quiet and speak

mean food, man-sized food, not canary-bird ration

e have gotten away from here I will t

before sitting down to it, one of them walked over to the prisoner and stood peering down at him. Hippy's heart almost stopped beating

nor did he hear the breat

ive was safe, the mountaineer returned

pe that bound him, then its press

hat even voice behind h

ided him slowly, cautiously, every movement forward

r hand," whispered, the

wisting and turning, finally taking to the middle of a mounta

ack there. What did they propose

to shoot me up, provided I do not give them

inform

n of the previous night, leaving out no det

u, perhaps for an hour or more. When I return I will give one shor

spy on that outfit that we

have up their sleeves. Here's a revolver for you. I su

s friend started away. "Haven't you forgotten s

some dog biscui

it?" excla

o know what that is,"

ack and began biting it off in large chunks. Hippy did not concern himself about how long

first thing I know. Army food! How did I e

whistle signal sounded somewhere down stream,

w," announced the man a few moments

xcursion?" questioned Hippy thickly, for

ard time of it, and it looked for a time as if there was going to be shooting. Cooler heads, however, headed it off. When you get back to your pa

tell me why they are so eager to

u know, L

asking you. Begging your

ipal one, is that you bounced

hat's the

t there is a price on your head up he

d a low, long-drawn