ur times. The fourth time the
rope cut deep into the flesh. The boy was unconscious. Brutally hacking
his body with knives, they left him for dead. That was early in 1870.

June 2 of that year, before John had recovered from his injuries, mother
died.

9. HOW ELKINS ESCAPED

It was along about the first week in October, 1862, that I stopped with a
dozen men at the home of Judge Hamilton, on Big Creek, in Cass county.
We spent the afternoon there, and just before leaving John Hays, of my
command, dashed up with the news that Quantrell was camped only two miles
west. He also gave the more important information to me, that some of
Captain Parker's men had arrested Steve Elkins on the charge of being a
Union spy, and were taking him to Quantrell's camp to hang him.

I lost no time in saddling up, and followed by my little detachment, rode
hastily away to Quantrell's camp, for red tape occupied little space in
those days, and quick action was necessary if anything was to be done.

I knew Quantrell and his men well and was also aware that there were
several Confederate officers in the camp. The moment we reached our
destination, I went at once to Captain Charles Harrison, one of the
officers, and my warm personal friend, and told him openly of my
friendship and esteem for Elkins. He promised to lend me all his aid and
influence, and I started out to see Quantrell, after first telling my men
to keep their horses saddled, ready for a rescue and retreat in case I
failed of a peaceable deliverance.

Quantrell received me courteously and kindly, as he always did, and after
a little desultory chat, I carelessly remarked, "I am surprised to find
that you have my old friend and teacher, Steve Elkins, in camp as a
prisoner."

"What! Do you know him?" asked Quantrell in astonishment.

I told him that I did, and that he was my school teacher when the war
broke out, also that some half a hundred other pupils of Elkins were now
fighting in the Southern army.

"We all care for him very deeply," I told Quantrell, and then asked what
charges were preferred against him. He explained that Elkins had not been
arrested on his orders, but by some of Parker's men, who were in vicious
humor because of their leader's recent death. They had told Quantrell
that Elkins had joined the Union forces at Kansas City, and was now in
Cass county as a spy.

I jumped to my feet, and said that the men that made the charges lied, and