The Call of the Cumberlands

There was a low murmur of anger, and a voice cried out from the rear: "Let him go. We hain't got no use fer damn cowards."

"Whoever said thet's a liar!" shouted the boy. Lescott, standing at

his side, felt that the situation was more than parlous. But, before

the storm could break, some one rushed in, and whispered to Wile

McCager a message that caused him to raise both hands above his head,

and thunder for attention.

"Men," he roared, "listen ter me! This here hain't no time fer squabblin'

amongst ourselves. We're all Souths. Tamarack Spicer has done gone ter

Hixon, an' got inter trouble. He's locked up in the jail-house."

"We're all hyar," screamed old Caleb's high, broken voice. "Let's go

an' take him out."

Samson's anger had died. He turned, and held a whispered conversation

with McCager, and, at its end, the host of the day announced briefly: "Samson's got somethin' ter say ter ye. So long as he's willin' ter

stand by us, I reckon we're willin' ter listen ter Henry South's boy."

"I hain't got no use for Tam'rack Spicer," said the boy, succinctly,

"but I don't 'low ter let him lay in no jail-house, unlessen he's got a

right ter be thar. What's he charged with?"

But no one knew that. A man supposedly close to the Hollmans, but in

reality an informer for the Souths, had seen him led into the jail-yard

by a posse of a half-dozen men, and had seen the iron-barred doors

close on him. That was all, except that the Hollman forces were

gathering in Hixon, and, if the Souths went there en masse, a

pitched battle must be the inevitable result. The first step was to

gain accurate information and an answer to one vital question. Was

Tamarack held as a feud victim, or was his arrest legitimate? How to

learn that was the problem. To send a body of men was to invite

bloodshed. To send a single inquirer was to deliver him over to the

enemy.

"Air you men willin' ter take my word about Tamarack?" inquired

Samson. But for the scene of a few minutes ago, it would have been an

unnecessary question. There was a clamorous assent, and the boy turned

to Lescott.

"I wants ye ter take Sally home with ye. Ye'd better start right away,

afore she heers any of this talk. Hit would fret her. Tell her I've had

ter go 'cross ther country a piece, ter see a sick man. Don't tell her

whar I'm a-goin'." He turned to the others. "I reckon I've got yore

promise thet Mr. Lescott hain't a-goin' ter be bothered afore I gits

back?"