it. But we know now, and I do
think that some on us had oughter have a hand in making them Yankees
stay where they b'long. I'd go in a minute if it wasn't fur the ole
woman and the young ones."

"I aint got none of them things to hold me back, and I'll go in your
place, Jeff," said one of the wood-cutters. It was the man who had drawn
his seat close in front of Rodney, and seemed to be so much interested
in the boy's watch chain.

"Will you go with me and join Price?" asked the latter, eagerly.

"I reckon I might as well," replied the man.

"Do you know the country?"

"Well, no; I can't say that I do. But I know where to look to find the
road that runs from Jackson to Hartsville, forty miles this side of
Springfield, and when you get there, mebbe you'll know where you are."

"No, I won't," answered Rodney. "I have never been in this part of
Missouri before. I have been in St. Louis two or three times, but when I
got out of sight of the Planters' House I was lost completely."

"Why, didn't the cap'n of the _Mollie Able_ tell Jeff that you was one
of Price's men? How could you have jined him if you haven't been where
he was?"

Rodney did not at all like the tone in which this question was asked,
and it was right on the end of his tongue to tell the wood-cutter that
it was none of his business; but on second thought he decided that that
wouldn't do. The man talked and acted as if he suspected him of
something; and if the others suspected him too, they might make trouble
for him. The steamboat captain did say that he was one of Price's men,
and Rodney wished now that he hadn't done it.

"I suppose I could arrange all that by letter or telegraph, couldn't I?"
was the answer he made, as he produced his note book and took from it
the dispatch he had received from Dick Graham's father, and one of the
letters of introduction that had been given to him by Captain Howard.
These he passed over to the suspicious wood-cutter, rightly believing
that the latter could not read a word of them. "You will see that that
telegram reads, 'Price will accept,'" continued Rodney. "I belong to a
company of Rangers that was raised down the river, and at my captain's
request I telegraphed to Price inquiring if he would take us and let us
operate on our own hook, and he said he would. Read it for yourself.
What are you afraid of?"

"Nothing much."

"You see," explained Jeff, who during this conversation had sat with his
elbows resting