f the girls, who rather wanted to
see Marcy Gray's courage vindicated, if there were any way in which it
could be done. "What did he do? Did you really have a fight at the
academy over the flag? Go on, please, and tell us all about it."

Rodney tried to speak, but Dick was not to be put down. He knew that
Rodney was determined to say something to his cousin's injury if he
could, and Dick Graham was not the boy to stand by and see it done
without raising his voice in protest.

"Yes; some of the boys tried their level best to get the flag," said
Dick, "but its defenders were much too numerous and strong for them.
During the struggle there were some middling heavy blows passed, and, if
I mistake not, Rodney came in for a few that he'll not soon forget."

Rodney tried to laugh it off as a joke, but it was easy to see that he
was about as mad as he could hold.

"Now go on and describe the part you took in that fracas," said he, as
soon as he could speak.

"Who? Me? I didn't take any part in it. I don't fight. I'm neutral. You
see Missouri hasn't gone out of the Union yet, and I don't intend to
make a move until she does. See? I was not saying a word for myself, but
for Marcy, who isn't here to take his own part."

"What I want to get at is this," continued Rodney. "If Marcy is so
devoted to the Union, why does he stay here, flinging his obnoxious
doctrines in our faces every chance he gets? Why doesn't he go North and
join the Yankees?"

"He doesn't fling his doctrines in our faces," Dick interposed. "He
stands up for them when he thinks it necessary, and so would I if I
believed as he does."

"I admire him for that," said one of the girls.

"Oh, do you?" exclaimed Rodney, who was sure of his ground now. "Will
you continue to admire him when I tell you that he hoped the Yankees
would send a fleet into Charleston harbor that would blow South Carolina
out of water?"

No, the girls could not admire Marcy Gray or anybody else who talked
that way. If that was his doctrine, he had better quit the South and go
among those who believed as he did.

"I was sure you would say so; and that was the point I was trying to
reach," continued Rodney. "That was what I meant when I asked if he had
the courage to back up his opinions."

"I am sorry to hear that of Marcy," said one of the girls, and her face
showed that she meant every word of it. "He is such a splendid horseman
and looks so handsome riding with his battery! And to