Charlie aimed the gun at Johnny’s groin and pulled the trigger. Johnny screamed and doubled over, writhing in pain, his legs kicking wildly. Then Charlie shot him again, between the eyes. The screaming stopped abruptly. The mine rang with the echo of the shots. It seemed to bounce around the walls.
Theo took the gun and looked at Red, “Your friends are waiting in hell for you, and we will send the rest shortly.” So saying, he shot Red between the eyes, the man falling back into the dirt. The men hauled and dragged the bodies deep into the shaft, then dropped them down an open hole. Victor took their gear and saddles from the horses and tossed them into the hole after them. Victor would lead those horses away and set them loose, then he would return to the mine to wait.
Henry, Ben and the other men mounted up to track down the other five. Theo wanted them all dead before sundown. He wanted to go with them, but one armed would be more hindrance than help. The men told him not to worry, they would be careful and bring the five back as quickly as they could. Theo and Victor would wait for their return.
The task of hunting down the five men was more difficult than they had hoped. Will and Ned Sathe were found right away, both working out in the field. Henry and Ben waited in the tall grass as they watched the men work. There were a few field hands in the field, though it was Sunday, they were made to work. Near evening, they broke for dinner, the field hands heading back to their cabins. Will and Ned hung behind in the field, their laughter floating over the grass, carried by the wind. Henry heard them mention last night’s work and looked over at Ben. He had heard them as well. They crept stealthily through the tall grass; Henry carried the iron in hand. Ben carried a thick piece of maple. When they reached the brothers, they charged, swinging their makeshift clubs.
Both men dropped like stones, teeth flying from their mouths. Henry dragged both men easily as Ben ran ahead to get the horses. They loaded them up and rode away from the farmstead. Next, they headed to Timothy Braker’s home; it was up the road a quarter of a mile. The day was waning and they had to hurry.
Henry and Ben stood behind the barn, looking into the yard. All was quiet, then Timothy came out of the house, walking toward the outhouse. He was looking down as he walked, trying to undo the buttons on his breeches. When he looked up, he was caught square on the jaw by Ben’s lumber. He never saw it coming and fell to the ground. He was hoisted onto a spare horse and quietly led away.
Carl and Charlie found the Johnson homestead. Harry and Marlow were sitting on the porch drinking and watching the children play in the yard. It was midafternoon, and it looked as though they had finished their mid day meal. Carl thought bitterly of his child, who would never eat again and he was tempted to tear the men apart right then and there. Sensing his thoughts, Charlie laid his hand on Carl’s forearm, shaking his head, no. They waited there for several hours, watching. Harry got up and headed for the barn, Marlow called out to him and got up to follow. Carl and Charlie went to the barn, slipping inside. Carl took his spade and knocked Marlow on the back of the head. The noise jolted Harry around in time to see Charlie coming at him with a hoe.
Swinging it with all his might, Charlie nearly bashed in Harry’s skull. Slinging both men up on their shoulders, they left the barn as quietly as they had come. Going to the woods, where their horses were tethered, they loaded their bounty and headed to the mine. It was late afternoon, closing in on early evening when everyone met up. All five men were bound and lay like ragdolls on the rocky ground. Will and Ned had regained consciousness and were trying to talk their way out of their situation when Carl and Charlie rode up. Timothy was still out cold and Harry and Marlow were coming to. Henry pulled both men roughly off the horses and dragged them into the mine.
Theo asked Carl and Charlie if they wanted to torture the men before they shot them. Both men declined, sick of death, wanting only to get it over with. Theo handed the revolver to Carl and Carl quickly dispatched two of the men, Will and Ned. Charlie took the colt and killed Harry and Marlow. Theo took the gun and aimed it at Timothy, without a word, he shot the young man between the eyes. All the bodies were taken and dropped into the bottomless hole of the mine shaft. Henry and Victor began to clean the area and when everyone had left, they covered their tracks as they led their horses away, leaving no evidence that they had ever been there. The fire had burned out long ago and was covered with dirt and debris. The water bucket was taken by Carl along with the extra rope. Not many knew about the abandoned mine, but just incase, they wanted the place clean.
It was evening by the time the men returned home, they were weary and
