d had spoken, he came back and took his stand
beside the open door out of sight. The slaves were all eavesdroppers in
those days, and if anything escaped their notice and hearing, it was not
their fault. They were better posted and took a deeper interest in the
affairs of the day than many people supposed. The Northern papers, which
now and then in some mysterious way came into their hands, just as the
_Tribune_ came into Uncle Toby's hands, told them the truth; while the
white people around them pinned their faith to the falsehoods
disseminated by the secession press. Sam stood on the porch and heard
all that was said and saw all that was done in the store; and when Mr.
Bailey brought the interview to a close by ordering Bud and his
companions to "clear out," Sam made haste to get away before they caught
sight of him. This time he went home and hunted up his master, who was
at work in the garden.

Bud Goble had encountered an obstacle where he had least expected to
find it; but although he was surprised, and a little disheartened, he
would not admit that he was beaten. All Union men could not be as plucky
as Mr. Bailey was, and Bud determined to try his plan again as soon as
he could rid himself of the company of his four friends. He had no use
for them just now, and if he succeeded in frightening Mr. Bowen into
giving him a ham or a side of bacon, he did not want to be obliged to
share it with any one.

"That's a trifle the beatenest thing I ever heared of," declared Silas,
who was the first to speak. "I do think in my soul that that ole man
oughter be dealt with. When does that company of your'n meet, Bud, an'
how are we-uns goin' to get into it?"

"We aint met nowheres yet, an' to tell you the truth, I aint got the
'rangements fairly goin'," was the answer. "What I meant to say was,
that I have been thinkin' of sich a thing; an' you can see from what
happened in the store that a company of that sort is needed, can't you?
S'pose you-uns talk it up. 'Pears like we'd oughter get twenty fellers
of our way of thinkin' together, an' if we can, jest see how much help
we-uns could be to that committee of our'n. Tell 'em what you've seen
an' heared this mornin', that the kentry is full of sich men as Bailey
is, an' that we aint goin' to have 'em here no longer. Now, where'll I
find you-uns agin in about an hour so't we can talk it over? I'll be
back directly I 'tend to a little private business I've got on hand."

The pl