sin
of Frederic Shackelford, son of the late Colonel Richard Shackelford of
our army?"

Calhoun's brow clouded. "Yes," he answered; "but why do you say the late
Colonel Shackelford? Uncle Dick is not dead."

"Is that so? I am rejoiced to hear it. It was reported he was among the
slain."

"He was desperately wounded," answered Calhoun, "but he did not die, and
he is now a prisoner in the hands of the Yankees. Uncle Dick is a hero;
but as for that traitor cousin of mine, I hate him!" and again Calhoun's
brow grew dark.

"I have no reason to love him," laughed Morgan, "but I cannot help
admiring him. He it was who discovered our well-laid plans, and forced me
to flee from Lexington, as a thief in the night."

"Aye!" answered Calhoun, "but for him and that brute Nelson, Kentucky
would now have been out of the Union. But that is not all. Had it not been
for the same two traitors there would have been a different story to tell
of Shiloh. Grant's army would now have been prisoners, Buell's in full
flight, and our own pressing northward to redeem Kentucky. Had there been
no Nelson, Buell's army would not have reached Grant in time to save him
from destruction. If there had been no Fred Shackelford I should have
borne the news to General Johnston that Buell would join Grant by the
fifth, and Johnston would have made his attack a couple of days earlier. I
was bearing the news to Johnston that Nelson would reach Savannah by the
fifth when I was captured."

"Captured?" echoed Morgan, in surprise.

"Yes, captured, and by no less a personage than my cousin Fred
Shackelford. But for this I would have reached Johnston by the second; as
it was, I did not reach Shiloh until the morning of the last day of the
battle."

"Then you escaped?" queried Morgan.

"No; my cousin let me go, after he had held me until he knew my
information would be of no value. I was dressed in citizen's clothes. He
could have had me hanged as a spy. I suppose I ought to be thankful to
him, but I am not." And Calhoun shuddered when he thought how near he had
been to death.(1)

"That was kind of him," said Morgan; "and you ought to be thankful to him,
whether you are or not. To tell the truth, I took a great fancy to young
Shackelford, and tried hard to get him to cast his lot with me. But as I
failed to get him, I believe you would make a splendid substitute. You
still think you had rather go with me than be on Beauregard's staff?"

"A thousand times