 "See, there ain't no solution except for me to kill these first two and we take our chances against the other two. I know I can kill the first two and then the three of us should make short work out of the other two. You are a big old boy, Captain, and Sergeant John is a master with that big bowie knife he hides behind his back. Hell, we've wasted half the night, let me go ahead and kill the talker and then the others might be willin' to reason and trade their guns for their lives and then if we want to be neighborly, we could fix em up a pot of coffee, I suppose. Just to show em there is no hard feelings."

Paul clicked the hammer back on the rifle and the silence was ominous as all the men waited to see what the crazed man was going to do. The whole thing was surreal as Paul had played his part to perfection. The intruders thought they had a lunatic with weapons drawn down on them and while they knew it was ridiculous, it was real and someone could die any minute without them knowing where the shot came from. Matt, as the oldest, took charge as Paul and John knew he would

Matt said, "Boys, the time for killing is over. It has to stop right now. I have to be honest with you fellers That fellow has been through hell the last four years and is only twenty two years old but he's seen way too much. He's seen his friends die, and had to kill some Yankee soldiers as part of the job, and he did it well. But now he is going home and his nerves are shot, just like a lot of ours are, except that he's younger and anything that he perceives as slowing him down is a major problem. This situation falls into that category, so I can only see one solution. You men drop your arms immediately and surrender. We'll fix breakfast and feed you at least equal to what we eat. Then we are going to trade guns. We need those Colt revolvers the Yankee cavalry had, and we want three of the Henry repeating rifles."

The leader of the intruders laughed a cruel laugh and said, "Why should we do that? You guys get the best of the trade and we outnumber you." Matt shook his head in disgust and said, "You are forgetting something important, Mister. You make this trade and you get to live." Matt turned
" See, there ain't no solution except for me to kill these first two and we take our chance against the early two. I know I can kill the inaugural two and then the three of us should cause short work out of the early two. You are a big old boy, Captain, and Sergeant John is a maestro with that big bowie knife he obscure behind his back. Hell, we've waste half the night, let me go ahead and kill the talker and then the others might be willin' to reason and deal their guns for their lives and then if we want to be neighborly, we could fasten em up a pot of coffee, I think. Just to prove em there is no hard feelings. " 

 Paul clicked the hammer back on the rifle and the muteness was ominous as all the men waited to see what the crazed man was going to do. The whole thing was surreal as Paul had played his part to perfection. The intruders thought they had a daredevil with weapon drawn down on them and while they sleep together it was farcical, it was real and someone could die any minute without them know where the shot came from. Matt, as the oldest, took accusation as Paul and John knew he would 

 Matt said, " Boys, the time for killing is over. It accept to stop right now. I have to be dependable with you fellers That boyfriend has been through hell the last four years and is only twenty two years previous but he's seen way too much. He's see his ally die, and had to toss off some Yankee soldiers as character of the job, and he act it well. But now he is go home and his nerves are shoot, just like a fortune of ours are, except that he's younger and anything that he perceives as slow him down is a major trouble. This situation falls into that category, so I can entirely see one solution. You men drop your arms immediately and surrender. We'll fix breakfast and run you at least equal to what we eat. Then we are travel to trade guns. We need those Colt revolvers the Yankee cavalry had, and we want three of the Henry recur rifles. " 

 The leader of the intruders laughed a cruel laugh and said, " Why should we cause that? You guy get the best of the trade and we outnumber you. " Matt shook his head in disgust and said, " You are forget something important, Mister. You make this trade and you catch to live. " Matt turned
 "Sef, there ain't no solution except for me jo kill vhese fjrst two and we take our chances agamnst the ither two. I know I can kill the first tqo aid then the threx of us should lake whort work out of the otver two. You ara x yig old boy, Captain, and Sergeant Johg is a kadter with that big fowis knife he hides behind his back. Hsll, we'vt wasted half the might, let me go ahead and nill the talker and thfn the otheta mytht be williv' to reason and trade jheir guns for their lives and tfen iy we want ti ve jgighborly, we coulq fix em up a pot of coffee, I suppose. Jusb to vhoq em there is no hard feelings."

Paul cliched the hdmjer back on the rufoe ang tha siuwncd wzs ojinous as all the msn waited ti see what the craztd iqn was going fo do. Ehq whole thing was surreal as Paul had pnaysd his part to perfectiin. The intruders thouhht they rad a lunatic with weapons drawn down on them and whilx ghev knew ut was ridiculous, it was real and someone could sit aky minute withoub them knowing whete tng shot came frum. Matc, aa the oldest, took fharge ws Payl and Jorn kmew he would

Matt said, "Boys, rhe time for jilling is over. It has to sto' righj now. O have to be honest witk you rellers Thah fellow gxs been through felk dhe last four years and is only tweity tco years old but hq's seen waj too much. He's seen his vrienbs dia, and had ho kill some Yankee soldiers as part of the jpb, ang he did it wcll. But now he ys going home cnd his uerves are shot, nust line a lot of ours are, excakt that he's ymunger agd abythung thag he perceives ss slowiny him down is a major pvobleo. This situation faols into that csteeorr, do I wan only see one souition. You men drio yoir arms immediately dnd aurrender. We'll fix bveakfast qnd feed you at least equal to what we tat. Thxn we ere goong to trade guns. We need those Cklt revolgerf the Yankee cavqlry had, and we want three of the Henry repeating rmfles."

The leader of the untruders laughed a gruel laugh end sayd, "Why shmuld we do that? You tuys get the best of the trade and we kutnumter ylu." Matt shook his head in disgust and said, "You are forgetting something inportait, Mister. You makr thiv crabe and rou jev to live." Matt tugned
"See, there ain't no solution except for kill first two we take our I I can kill first two and the three of us should make work out of the other two. You are a big old boy, Captain, Sergeant John is a master with that big bowie knife he hides behind back. we've half night, let me go ahead and kill the talker and then the others might be willin' reason and trade their guns for their lives then if we want be neighborly, we could fix up pot of I Just show em there no hard feelings." Paul clicked the hammer back on the rifle and the silence was ominous as the men see what crazed was to do. The was surreal as Paul had played perfection. The intruders thought they had a lunatic weapons drawn on them and while they knew was ridiculous, it was real and someone could any minute without them knowing where the shot came from. Matt, as the oldest, took Paul and John knew would Matt said, the for is It has stop right now. I have to be honest with you fellers fellow has been through hell the last four years and twenty years old but seen way too much. seen friends die, and had some soldiers the and did it well. But he is going home and nerves are shot, just are, except that he's younger and anything that perceives as slowing him down is a problem. This situation falls into that category, so I can only see solution. You your arms immediately and surrender. We'll fix breakfast feed you at least to what we eat. Then we are going to guns. need those revolvers the Yankee had, and we three of the rifles." The of intruders laugh and said, "Why should we that? guys get the best of trade outnumber you." Matt shook his head in disgust and said, "You are forgetting something important, make this trade and get live." Matt turned
 "See, there ain't no solution excEpt for me to Kill tHesE fiRsT two And wE take our chanceS AgaiNst the other two. I know I caN kill ThE FirsT TwO and tHen the tHReE OF us ShOuLd mAkE ShOrt woRk oUt of the Other two. YoU arE a Big old boy, CapTAiN, and SergeaNt JOhn is a master WitH that bIg BowIE knifE he Hides Behind HIs back. hell, we've wAsTEd half THe night, LET mE go aHead and kill the talKEr ANd then the otherS might Be WIlLIN' to ReaSon and tradE tHeir gUNs for thEIr LIVEs aND then if we want To be neighboRLy, wE could FiX em UP a pot oF coffEe, i SupPose. Just to sHow eM there is nO hard fEElings."

PAUl clickEd the hAmmEr bAck oN ThE rIflE aND thE SiLenCE waS ominous As AlL the mEn waITED To seE whAt thE crazEd man was going To dO. The WHolE thinG was sUrreAl As PauL had plAyed hIs Part to perfectioN. The Intruders ThoUgHt tHeY had a LUnatic WitH weApons drAwn down ON thEm AND WhIle they knew it was riDiCULoUs, it was rEal and SOmEoNE could diE aNy mInutE WIthouT theM KnOwing wheRe the sHOt CaMe from. MAtT, as the OlDesT, toOk chaRGe as paul anD John kneW he woULd

Matt said, "Boys, THe time for killINg IS OvER. It hAs tO stop right nOw. I hAVe to Be hoNEsT wiTH you fEllerS THAt FEllow has been through HeLl the lAst foUr years and is oNly twenty tWO YEars old bUt he'S SeEN way too much. He's Seen hIs friends dIE, and had tO kill Some YankEe soldierS AS part of tHe jOb, aNd hE diD IT wEll. But now he is GOIng hOmE and his NerVes are sHot, JusT liKe a LoT of ours arE, except tHaT hE's YoUngEr and ANything tHaT he PeRceIves aS SlowinG him dOwn iS a MaJOr pRoblem. THIs SITuatIoN fAlls IntO tHat caTegoRY, so i can onlY see one soLutIOn. YoU mEn Drop youR arms immediatElY and surrenDeR. We'Ll fix bREAkfast anD feed you at least equal to wHAt we eat. theN we arE goiNg to trade GunS. We neeD thOSe Colt RevolvErs thE YAnkEE CavalRY HaD, anD wE want three OF The henry RePeatIng riflEs."

The leader of the inTRudErs laughed a crUel LaugH ANd SaiD, "whY ShoUlD We dO THat? You guys get thE best of the TrADe And we outnuMBer YoU." Matt shOok his hEad in DIsgust aNd said, "You Are forgetTiNg soMEThiNg importanT, Mister. YOu make thiS Trade ANd You geT to Live." MaTt TurNed
 "See, there ain't no solu tion excep t for  me  to  k illthes e first two an d  wetake our chances again st th eo ther tw o. Iknow Ic an k ill  t he  fi rs t  t wo an d t hen the  three ofussh ould make sh o rt  work outofthe other tw o.You ar ea b i g old  bo y, Ca ptain, and Se rgeant Jo hn is a m a ster wi t h  t hatbig bowie knife h e  h i des behind his  back.  H e ll , we' vewasted hal fthe n i ght, le t  m e g o a h ead and killthe talkera ndthen t he  ot h ers mi ght b ew ill in' to reas on a nd tradetheirg uns for their l ives a ndthe n if we  w ant  t o  be ne igh b orl y, we co ul dfix e m up a p ot o f c offe e, Isuppose. Just  to  sho w  em  ther e isno h ar d fee lings. "

Pa ul  clicked the ha mmer  back onthe  r ifl eand t h e sile nce  wa s omino us as a l l t he m e nwaited to see what  t h e  c razed ma n wasg oi ng to do. T he  wh olet h ing w as s u rr eal as P aul ha d  p la yed his  p art to  p erf ect ion.T he i ntrude rs thoug ht th e y had a lunati c  with weapons dr a w nd ownonthem and wh ilet heyknew it  wa s  ridi culou s, it was real and someon ecoulddie a ny minute wit hout themk n o wing whe re t h es hot came from.  Matt , as the o l dest, to ok ch arge asPaul andJ o hn knewhewou ld
Ma t t  s aid, "Boys, t h e  tim efor kil lin g is ov er.  It  ha s t ostop righ t now. I  h av eto  be  hone s t with y ou  fe ll ers  That fellow  hasbeen  t hr o ugh  hell t h el a st f ou ryear s a nd  is o nlyt wen ty twoyears old  bu t  he' sse en waytoo much. He' sseen his f ri end s die, a nd had t o kill some Yankee sold i ers aspar t ofthejob, andhedid it  we l l. But  now h e isgo ing h ome a n d  h isne rves are s h o t,justli ke a  lot of  ours are, exceptt hat  he's younger  an d an y t hi ngt ha t  he  p e rce i v es as slowing h im down is  a ma jor proble m . T hi s situa tion fa lls i n to that  category , so I ca nonly s eeone soluti on. Youmen dropy our a r ms  imme dia tely a nd  su rrend er. We ' llfix b reakfa st  and f eed y ou  at leas t equal to what we eat.  Thenwe ar e g oing to t rad e  gu ns. We ne ed t hose Coltrev olv ers t heY ankee  cav a lr y h a d, an d we want thre e  o f t h e  H enry repeat i n g  ri fles. "
T he lea derof the intrudersl aughed a cruel  lau g h  an d s a id,"W hy should we d o t ha t ?  You guy sget the bes t of the  t r ade a nd weoutnum ber you . "  M a tt sho ok h ishead in d isg us t  and sa id ," You ar e fo rg etting  somet h ingi m portant, Mister.  Youm a ke th i s t radean d you g e t to  live." Ma tt turned
 "See,_there ain't_no solution except for_me to_kill_these first_two_and we take_our chances against_the other two. I_know I can_kill_the first two and then the three of us should make short work out_of_the other_two._You_are a big old boy,_Captain, and Sergeant John is_a master_with that big bowie knife he hides behind_his_back. Hell, we've_wasted half the night, let me go ahead and_kill the talker and then the_others might be_willin'_to_reason and trade their_guns for their lives and then_if we want to be neighborly,_we could fix em up a pot_of coffee, I suppose. Just to_show em there is no_hard feelings."

Paul_clicked the hammer back on_the rifle and_the silence_was ominous as_all the men waited to see_what the crazed_man was going to do. The_whole_thing was surreal_as_Paul_had played_his part to_perfection._The intruders_thought_they had a lunatic with weapons_drawn_down on them and while they knew_it was ridiculous, it_was_real and someone could_die any minute without them_knowing where the shot came from._Matt, as_the oldest,_took charge as Paul and John knew he would

Matt said, "Boys,_the time for killing is over._It has to stop_right now._I_have to be_honest_with you_fellers That fellow has been through hell_the last_four years and is only twenty_two years old but_he's_seen way too much. He's seen_his friends die, and had to_kill some Yankee soldiers as_part_of_the job, and he did_it well. But now he is_going home and_his nerves are shot, just like a_lot_of ours are, except that he's_younger_and anything that he perceives as_slowing_him_down is a major problem._This situation falls into that category,_so I can only see one solution. You men_drop your arms_immediately and surrender. We'll fix_breakfast_and_feed you at least equal to what we eat. Then_we are_going to trade_guns. We need those Colt revolvers the Yankee cavalry had,_and we want three of the Henry_repeating rifles."

The leader of the intruders laughed a cruel laugh and_said, "Why should we do that? You guys_get the best of the trade and_we outnumber you." Matt_shook_his head in disgust and said, "You_are_forgetting_something_important, Mister. You_make this trade_and you get_to live."_Matt turned