called for volunteers to assist in
his undertaking, for Ellis was known to be a dangerous man.

"Here, some of you young bucks that can ride bare-back, strip the harness
off my team an' help ketch that murderous heathen! Only wish't I wasn't
all crippled up with rheumatics, I'd show him!"

The speaker was Captain William Bowen, who had fought in the
Revolutionary War, ending seven years earlier, (1783) and was proud of
it; and who, though really sadly crippled by rheumatism, was still a sure
shot and not the man to be trifled with by law-breakers. He would permit
no one to call him anything but "Captain." His old rifle was always
within reach and two big pistols were ever his companions.

For a minute no one made a move to accept the captain's offer, and then
with: "Come on, John," Ree Kingdom waited no longer. In a twinkling the
boys unharnessed the horses, leaving only the bridles on them, and were
mounted. Tom Huson, the blacksmith and Peter Piper, a half-breed Indian,
a sort of roustabout in the neighborhood, had also hurriedly prepared to
join in the chase.

"Take my twins, lads, they bite as hard as they bark," called Captain
Bowen, passing his brace of pistols up to Ree and John, and in another
moment the party was galloping in pursuit of the big fellow whose crime
might yet be murder, Dr. Cartwright having reported that only time could
tell.

"Who-ho-ho-ho-ho!" John Jerome could not resist the temptation to give an
Indian war-whoop. There is an exhilaration in a rapid ride by moonlight
at any time, and with the clatter of the hoofs of a half dozen horses
upon the beaten road, the forms of other riders, shadowy and ghost-like
on either side to lend a feeling of companionship, and a knowledge of
danger's presence to make every sense the more alert, there is no finer
excitement. Little wonder is it that John could not repress a yell, and
though of a much quieter disposition, Ree felt like shouting, also.

"Who-ho-ho-ho!" John yelled again, a half hour later, and the women and
children ran to the door of a house they were passing to see who it might
be that was dashing by at such breakneck speed. The air came soft and
cool to the riders half hidden in the shadows of the trees which bordered
the road, though the moon was shining gloriously.

"We will send you on ahead to tell Pete we are coming, if you are so fond
of making it known, youngster," exclaimed the constable as John gave
still another whoop.

"He