"What do you want us
to do? Want us to run so's you can have a good excuse for taking a shot at
us with that gun?"
"And you might have the decency," answered Wilson, "to ask us who we are
before you go any further."
"Well, then, who are you?"
"We're from Kentucky and we've sneaked through the Union lines to enlist.
If you want to show us the way to Chattanooga we'll be much obliged to you.
But if you're going to the trouble of arresting us for burning.... What was
it we burned, Tom?"
"Bridges," replied Tom, laughing.
"Yes--for burning bridges, then you're wasting your time."
"Maybe," answered the man. "But you're a-going with me all the same."
"Then let's go," said Tom. "What's the use of standing here in the mud?"
"I'll walk you back to Judson, an' you can tell yer story there. I ain't
believing you and I ain't disbelieving you. Turn around the way you was
a-going, an' keep yer hands out of yer pockets. I'll let a bullet go smack
into the first man that makes a move he shouldn't."
Here was a man they couldn't talk down. He was probably a good shot, and
ready to keep his threat. If only they could get him at a disadvantage, and
pull their revolvers before he could fire.
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