The Andre Norton Megapack - 15 Classic Novels and Short Stories

back in the canyon and Bayliss would try to use that against Rennie. Anse’s escape had been a short-sighted solution, Drew knew. To the captain such action only tied the Range in deeper. The Kentuckian ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think of something which had not gone wrong.
    The plank door banged open and Drew’s head came up with a snap. No use letting these Yankees think they had him worried. The lantern, feeble as it was, picked out the stripes on the blouse of the first man, the tin plate in the hands of the second.
    Drew looked down at the plate as it was slid under the bars and across the floor of his cell.
    “Stew, Sergeant? Ain’t that overfeedin’? Thought bread and water was more the captain’s style for Reb prisoners.” Drew was pleased that he was able to sound unconcerned.
    “Cocky one, ain’t you?” asked the man who had brought in the plate. “All you Rebs is alike—never know when you’re licked—”
    “Get along, Farley, that’s enough,” Muller broke in.
    Drew picked up the plate and forced himself to spoon up its contents. The stuff was still warm and not too bad. After the second spoonful he discovered that he was hungry—that much he would not have to pretend.
    “Kid!”
    Sergeant Muller’s bulk shut most of the lantern glow out of the cell.
    “You young squirts’re all alike—never take no advice. But I’m gonna give it, anyway. When th’ cap’n sees you, you button your lip! He ain’t one as takes kindly to no smart talkin’, ’specially not from a prisoner. As far as he’s concerned he’s got you about dead to rights—hoss thievin’ from th’ army.”
    “I’d like to know what proof he has,” Drew returned sharply. “Your patrol picked me up well away from those horses—in the mustanger camp where I was workin’—and Captain Bayliss can’t prove that’s not true, either. Anyway, what difference does it make to you, Sergeant?”
    “Since you ask, I don’t rightly know, kid. Maybe you was spoilin’ for a fight in th’ Jacks an’ did push our boys—”
    “But you don’t think so, Sergeant.” Drew put the plate on the bunk and stood up to approach the bars. Muller was the taller; the Kentuckian had to raise his eyes to meet the sergeant’s. The trooper’s face was mostly in the shadow, but it was plain the man did not mean him any ill.
    “I got m’ reasons.” Muller did not make any straighter answer. “But you think o’ what th’ cap’n does know about you, kid. You go ridin’ ’round with gold on you—more money than any drifter ever sees in ten years or more. You’re caught near where some stolen army stock is stashed away, an’ your partner lights out hell-for-leather, breaking through army lines. An’ we only got your story as to who you really are. I ask you—does that read good in the lieutenant’s report when th’ cap’n gets it?”
    “No,” Drew answered. “But what do you suggest doin’ about it, Sergeant?”
    “Got anybody in town as will speak up for you, Kirby? Reese Topham? He did before.”
    “He doesn’t know any more than what he said right then. Trouble is, Sergeant, anybody I could ask to back me up I’d have to bring out from Kentucky—and I don’t believe Captain Bayliss would wait for that.”
    “You work for Rennie, don’t you?”
    “Hunt Rennie has nothing to do with this. He didn’t know those horses were on the Range—”
    “Because you put them there, Kirby?”
    Muller made a lightning about-face. He snapped to attention facing the captain.
    “And what are you doing here, Sergeant?”
    “Prisoner bein’ fed, sir!” Muller reported stolidly.
    “And there is no need for conversation. Dismissed, Sergeant!”
    The captain watched Muller leave before he turned once more to Drew. “Kirby, do you know the penalty for horse stealing in this country?” he snapped.
    “Yes.”
    “Then you must know just what you have to face.”
    “Captain…” Drew began slowly, wanting to make his words just right. There was no reason to let Bayliss think he could simply ride right over his prisoner. On the other hand Muller’s advice had been good; it would be dangerous to antagonize the officer. “I had nothing to do with those stolen horses. We found them, yes, but they were already in the canyon. And there were two men guardin’ them—up on the ridge. They must have cleared out when your patrol rode in, but they were there the night before.”
    “You saw them?”
    “No, our