the
home of Vallandigham. He found that that gentleman was the idol of that
section. They wanted him to come home. They swore they would defend him
with their lives. The whole country reeked with disloyalty to the Federal
government.

Calhoun availed himself of the opportunity of talking with all classes of
citizens. He especially tried to get at the feelings of the humbler
members of the Knights of the Golden Circle, why they joined the order,
and what they proposed doing. All the information he gleaned he treasured
up.

From Dayton Calhoun proceeded to Indianapolis, where he was to meet Mr.
Bowman. He found Indiana much better organized than any of the other
states. Bowman was enthusiastic, and he seemed to hate the Lincoln
government with his whole soul. He would stop at nothing to achieve his
ends. But the especial object of his hatred was Governor Morton.

"I want to live long enough," he said, "to see that tyrant hanged for
trampling on the constitution of the state."

Calhoun found that the Knights stood in great dread of Morton. They
declared he had a way of finding out every secret of the order. If he had
not been thoroughly guarded, his life would not have been worth a
farthing.

Calhoun was taken into the country, where he witnessed the drilling of two
or three companies of Knights. These meetings always took place at night,
in some secret place, and sentinels were posted to guard against surprise.
Calhoun talked with many of the members to get their ideas and to find out
what they wished to accomplish.

"What do you think?" asked Bowman of Calhoun, after they had returned to
Indianapolis. "I have forty thousand of those fellows."

"Will they fight?" asked Calhoun.

"Fight? Of course they will fight," was the answer. "Let Morgan get into
the state, and you will see."

At Indianapolis Calhoun met with a wealthy farmer named Jones, who lived
near Corydon. He had no words too severe to say of Lincoln, and boasted of
the number of Knights in his part of the state.

"We are going to sweep the Black Abolitionists from the earth," he
exclaimed, boastingly, "and hang Old Abe, and Morton too."

"What would you do if Morgan came?" asked Calhoun.

"Do? I would throw my hat in the air and yell until I was hoarse," was the
answer.

"What if Morgan should want some of your horses?" asked Calhoun.

Mr. Jones's countenance fell. At length he mumbled, "Of course he would
pay me for them?"

"Of course," rep