let
you make the hazardous attempt?"

"Yes, with my own squadron, but he will risk no more men in the venture."

"Well, good-bye, John, if you try it," said one of the officers, laughing.

"Why good-bye, Colonel?"

"Because the Yankees will get you sure."

"Perhaps!" answered Morgan, dryly, as he arose to go.

"The whole South will ring with the praises of that man one of these
days," remarked Breckinridge, after Morgan had made his exit.

"A perfect dare-devil. I am proud he is a Kentuckian," remarked Trabue.

Not knowing the flattering words spoken of him, Morgan wended his way to
his headquarters, where he was informed by the orderly who took his horse
that a young Confederate officer had been waiting for some time to see
him.

"He said he must see you," continued the orderly, "and if necessary he
would wait all night."

"All right, I will see what he wants," replied Morgan, as he turned and
entered his headquarters. There he was greeted by a young man, not much
more than a boy, who wore the uniform of a Confederate lieutenant.

Morgan gave him a swift glance, and then exclaimed: "Bless my heart! if
this isn't Calhoun Pennington, son of my old friend Judge Pennington! I am
more than glad to see you. I have heard of some of your exploits, and
often wondered why you did not seek to take service with me. Let's see!
You were on the staff of the late lamented Governor Johnson, were you
not?"

"Yes," replied Calhoun; and his voice trembled, and tears came into his
eyes in spite of himself, as he thought of the death of his beloved chief.

"A grand man, a brave man," said Morgan, gently. "Now that he has gone,
what do you propose doing?"

"That is what I have come to see you about. General Beauregard has offered
me a position on his staff, but I wanted to see you before I accepted."

"What! a position on the staff of General Beauregard! That is a rare honor
for one so young as you are. Of course you are going to accept?"

"I do not know yet; I am to give him an answer in the morning, as I said I
wanted to see you first. Great as the honor is which has been offered me,
I feel it is a service which would not be agreeable to me. I much prefer
the freer life of a scout and ranger. Perhaps you may know, I have done
much of this kind of work. I have even performed more dangerous tasks than
that of scouting, and I confess I rather like it."

Morgan mused for a moment, and then suddenly asked: "Are you not a cou