, yes. I had rather go with you as a private than be a
lieutenant on the General's staff," answered Calhoun, with vehemence.

Morgan's eyes sparkled. "That is the finest compliment I ever had paid
me," he said, "but I cannot allow the son of my old friend Judge
Pennington to serve in the ranks as a private soldier. Yet my companies
are fully officered now. Let's see! How would you like to go back to
Kentucky?"

"Go back to Kentucky?" asked Calhoun in surprise.

"Yes, to recruit for my command. Do you think you could dodge the
Yankees?"

"I believe I could. I could at least try," answered Calhoun, his face
aglow with the idea.

"The case is this," said Morgan: "I am going to make a raid in a few days,
and am going to try to reach Kentucky. My present force is small--not much
over four hundred. I do not look for much help from the Confederate
Government. Those in authority do not regard with much favor independent
organizations. To augment my force, I must in a great measure rely on my
own efforts. I know there are hundreds of the flower of Kentucky youths
eager to join me if they had the opportunity. You are just the person to
send back to organize them. When can you start?"

"In the morning," answered Calhoun.

Morgan smiled. "Good!" he said. "You are made of the right material. We
will make full arrangements to-morrow. Good night, now, for it is getting
late."

Thus dismissed Calhoun went away with a light heart. He was to be one of
Morgan's men. It was all he wished.

The next morning Calhoun informed General Beauregard that while sensible
of the great honor which he would bestow on him by appointing him a member
of his staff, yet he believed he could be of more service to the South by
casting his fortune with Morgan, and he had concluded to do so.

"While I greatly regret to lose you," replied the General, "I believe you
have chosen well. To one of your temperament service with Morgan will be
much more congenial than the duties of a staff officer. In fact,"
continued the General, with a smile, "I think you resemble Morgan in being
restive under orders, and prefer to have your own way and go where you
please. A command or two of partisan rangers may do, but too many would be
fatal to the discipline of an army. Morgan may do the enemy a great deal
of mischief, but after all, the fate of the South must be decided by her
great armies."

"True, General," replied Calhoun, "but if Morgan can keep thousands of t