and Dick was to do as Marcy suggested; but he
could not make a move without running the risk of offending the
influential members of the Committee of Safety. As he spoke he pointed
toward the door, and Dixon saluted and went out.

"In order to relieve your suspense, Private Gray, I will tell you what I
purpose doing," continued the colonel. "I will send this man with a note
to the police justice in town, and request him to take some steps
looking to your cousin's release. That is all I can do."

"An' will you give me the hunderd dollars to hand to Bud?" inquired
Caleb.

"I shall not give you a cent."

"Then I sha'n't go nigh Bud, an' that's flat," declared Caleb, with more
spirit than he had previously exhibited. "Them chaps will get licked if
I don't have that money to hand to Bud when I see him, an' I aint
wantin' to get into trouble."

Dixon, who was loitering about on the outside of the tent, did not wait
to hear any more, but posted off to the hall, where he found an excited,
almost frantic, crowd of students impatiently looking for some one to
come from the guard tent and tell them what the commandant had decided
to do.

"Colonel," said Marcy, whose white face showed how desperate was the
conflict that was raging within him, and how hard it was to be
respectful to the man who had it in his power to help Rodney, and who
refused to use that power because he was afraid of the Barrington
secessionists. "Your plan will not work, sir."

"I can't help it," was the colonel's answer. "It is the only thing I can
do. If Rodney had stayed within bounds he would not be in need of help.
Now go, all of you."

As soon as they were safe out of the tent Marcy caught Caleb by the arm
and whispered--

"If the colonel hands you a note to carry to town, don't go away with it
until I see you again. If you do you may get into difficulty. I'll raise
some money for you."

"That's talking sense," said Caleb, in the same cautious whisper. "It's
the only way to get 'em off without a lickin'."

"Look here," exclaimed Billings, as the three moved away leaving Caleb
standing near the guard tent. "Are you going to raise a hundred dollars
for Goble?"

"Not much. I don't think I could; but I'm going to raise something to
pay Caleb for guiding me to Bud's hiding-place."

"Bully for you. Count us in."

"I'll not ask any one to go with me," answered Marcy. "If you want to
help, you can do it by telling me how I can smuggle my muske