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Black Tom was coming, coming surer and unless that flag, that "Rebel rag," were hauled down under twenty-four hours, Black Tom would come over and pull it down, and to that same poplar hang "Captain Mayhall an' his whole damn army." Black Tom might do it anyhow just for fun.
It was an order from the commandant at Cumberland Gap, sixty miles farther down Powell's Valley, authorizing Mayhall Wells to form a company to guard the Gap and to protect the property of Confederate citizens in the valley; and a commission of captaincy in the said company for the said Mayhall Wells.
"Captain Wells," interrupted Bill slowly, and again Mayhall stared hard at him, "as betwixt friends, as have been pussonal friends fer nigh onto twenty year, I hope you won't mention that little matter to me ag'in until I mentions it to you." "But, Misto Richmond, Hence Sturgill out thar says as how he heerd you say that if I didn't pay "
He was about to slap Mayhall on the shoulder and call him "pardner," when Flitter Bill coughed, and Mayhall lifted his chin. "Captain Wells?" said Bill. "Captain Wells," repeated Mayhall with a stiff salutation, and the messenger from over Black Mountain fell back with an apologetic laugh.
It was a pompous old buck who was bearing down on the old gray horse, and under the slouch hat with its flapping brim one Mayhall Wells, by name. There were but few strands of gray in his thick blue-black hair, though his years were rounding half a century, and he sat the old nag with erect dignity and perfect ease.
"I am a-laughin' at you, Mayhall Wells," he said, contemptuously, but he was surprised at the look on the good-natured giant's face. "Captain Mayhall Wells, ef you please." "Plain ole Mayhall Wells," said Hence, and Captain Wells descended with no little majesty and "biffed" him. The delighted crowd rose to its feet and gathered around. Tallow Dick came running from the barn.
A few minutes later both Mayhall and Flitter Bill saw him shaking his head, as he started homeward toward the Gap. Bill laughed silently, but Mayhall had grown grave. The fun was over and he beckoned Bill inside the store.
Bill was silent. "Black Tom says you air responsible for the Army of the Callahan. Have you heerd that, purveyor?" Still was there silence. "He says he's a-goin' to hang me to that poplar whar floats them Stars and Bars" Captain Mayhall Wells chuckled "an' he says he's a-goin' to hang you thar fust, though; have you heerd that, purveyor?"
Again, as several times before, the captain declined to fight his health was essential to the general well-being but Hence laughed in his face, and the captain had to face the music, though the heart of him was gone. He fought well, for he was fighting for his all, and he knew it. He could have whipped with ease, and he did whip, but the spirit of the thoroughbred was not in Captain Mayhall Wells.
"Captain Wells," interrupted Bill again and again Mayhall stared hard it was strange that Bill could have formed the habit of calling him "Captain" in so short a time "yestiddy is not to-day, is it? And to-day is not to-morrow? I axe you have I said one word about that little matter to-day? Well, borrow not from yestiddy nor to-morrow, to make trouble fer to-day.
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