ill
against the bar suggested they were ready to back their companion in any
form of horseplay he intended to try.

"Sam, one o' them thar schoolboys is breathin' down yore neck kinda hot
like," the tallest of the bar row observed.

Anse jerked against Drew's hold. There was no expression on his thin face,
but the old saber scar from lip to eye on his left cheek was suddenly
twice as noticeable.

Sam reached up against the bar, squirmed around, the book still in his
hand.

"Wal, now, sonny, you ain't really wantin' this here book back? Never
knowed any li'l boy what warn't glad to see th' last o' a book. Better git
away from a real man 'fore you gits yore backside warmed. That's what th'
teacher does to smarty kids, ain't it?"

"You'd better watch out, Sam." Again the tall man cut in. Sam was still
grinning, but there was a curve of lip which was far from any real humor,
even that provoked by the practical jokes of a barracks bully. "One of
them kids had been sayin' as how he rode with Forrest, regular li'l
red-hot Reb, he is. Stomp all over us ... that's what you Rebs has been
promisin' to do, ain't it? Gonna stomp all over any Blue Bellies as comes
into this town? Well, we ain't bein' booted--not easy--an' not by you, Reb!"

A second, perhaps more--that much warning Drew had before the speaker
lurched from the bar straight for him. What had happened, how this had
sprung up out of nothing, the Kentuckian could not understand. But he knew
well that he was under an attack delivered with a purpose, and with all
the dirty tricks of a no-rules, back-alley fighter.

8

Only once before, when some river toughs had ganged up on the scouts, had
Drew had to use fists to beat his way out of an argument. But that had
been a round dance at Court House Day compared to this. Within moments the
Kentuckian knew that he was no match for the trooper, that he would be
lucky if he could get out of this unmaimed. The fellow knew every dirty
trick and was eager to use them all. Drew tried only to keep on his feet
and out of the other's grip. Once down, he knew he would have no chance at
all.

Then he was jerked back, off balance, staggering on to bring up against
the wall. He caught at the solid backing and somehow remained upright,
seeing hazily through one eye. The other was puffing closed, and his lip
was torn, a trickle of blood rising there to drip down his chin. He put
both hands to his middle where more than one o