He knows he is in dire danger, and has only so far escaped through having surrendered to a settler instead of to one of the Rangers.
"Let's gie him a chance o' his life; ef he'll tell all about it," counsels Cully.

"What d'ye say, cap ?" "I agree to that," responds the Ranger captain.

"He don't appear to be worth shooting; though it may be as well to take him on to the settlements, and shut him up in prison.

The promise of pardon may get out of him all he knows; if not, the other will.

He's not an Indian, and a bit of rope looped round his neck will, no doubt, loosen his tongue.