While others held their place. With
desperate
determination some of the bandits broke through the circle and
escaped into the darkness, but most lay bleeding and dying about the
remains of the camp.
14 In all The Hawk's people had killed forty six of them, and taken
another twenty-eight prisoner, while losing only three of their own
people!
15 "Damn it!" wept one of the prisoners, "You blasted ghost lovers
don't fight fair!"
16 The Hawk smiled. "Damned right!" he agreed.
17 They gathered their strength and waited for morning, then sent out
their patrols. Dozens of trails led only to dead bodies but finally one
led to what they were looking for… the bandit's camp! The
scouts reported back. There was still a good number of them, perhaps
one-hundred or more. But their camp was in a box canyon. It was a good
hiding place, but with only one way in, or, out. They were trapped.
18 The Hawk wasted no time. Leaving a small group to guard the
prisoners, he led the attack on the bandit camp.
19 The bandits were desperate and fought boldly, but for them, time had
run out! After an hour of fierce fighting all but fifteen of them lay
dead. Many captives were released, mostly women, girls, and young boys
of various lands. The Hawk viewed the prisoners.
20 "You have taken many of our people in raids," he told them. "We wish
to know where they went. The information can save your lives. Any who
confess their guilt, and, help us, will live. Any that do not, will
feel the executioner's blade on the back of his neck! So, which will it
be, life or death?"
21 One of the men crawled over to The Hawk. "I can tell you something,"
he whispered, "something that will help you. But if I do, you've got to
keep me separate from the other prisoners. They'll beat me