"Yes, sir, but not now."
Hale was worried, but there was nothing else to be done.
"All right. I'll let you go if you stop saying 'sir' to me. It
makes me feel so old."
"Certainly, sir," said the lad quite unconsciously, and when Hale
smothered a laugh, he looked around to see what had amused him.
Darkness fell quickly, and in the gathering gloom they saw two
more figures skulk into the cabin.
"We'll go now--for we want the fellow who's selling the
moonshine."
Again Hale was beset with doubts about the boy and his own
responsibility to the boy's brothers. The lad's eyes were shining,
but his face was more eager than excited and his hand was as
steady as Hale's own.
"You slip around and station yourself behind that pine-tree just
behind the cabin"--the boy looked crestfallen--"and if anybody
tries to get out of the back door--you halt him."
"Is there a back door?"
"I don't know," Hale said rather shortly. "You obey orders. I'm
not your brother, but I'm your captain."
"I beg your pardon, sir. Shall I go now?"
"Yes, you'll hear me at the front door. They won't make any
resistance.
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