stretch hemp

If that fellow comes up here, he will see us; if we let him go the Johnnies will have us, and inside of twenty-four hours we will have been tried by a drumhead court-martial and the whole six of us sentenced to stretch hemp. Now, it is better, in my opinion, that he should stretch hemp than we six; so, if he comes up here, I'll put this noose around his neck and the first chance we get we will jump him into the river.