But he had so often resorted to a similar expedient to
extort information, or plunder, that he by no means felt the terror an
unpracticed man would have suffered, at these ominous movements. The
rope was adjusted to his neck with the same coolness that formed the
characteristic of the whole movement, and a fragment of board being laid
upon the barrel, he was ordered to mount.
"But it may fall," said the Skinner, for the first time beginning to
tremble. "I will tell you anything--even how to surprise our party at
the Pond, without all this trouble, and it is commanded by my
own brother."
"I want no information," returned his executioner (for such he now
seemed really to be), throwing the rope repeatedly over the beam, first
drawing it tight so as to annoy the Skinner a little, and then casting
the end from him, beyond the reach of anyone.
"This is joking too far," cried the Skinner, in a tone of remonstrance,
and raising himself on his toes, with the vain hope of releasing himself
from the cord, by slipping his head through the noose. But the caution
and experience of the refugee officer had guarded against this escape.
"What have you done with the horse you stole from me, rascal?" muttered
the officer of the Cowboys, throwing out columns of smoke while he
waited for a reply.
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