he fodder I and my horse and that Yankee's
horse have eaten?" repeated Rodney.

"Oh; why didn't you say so? You and your horse are as welcome as the
flowers in May; and as for that thief's critter, I wouldn't let you pay
a cent for him any way. But I'm sorry you aint got your own boss to ride
to Springfield."

"So am I. Mine is the better horse, and besides I don't at all like the
idea of having every man I meet take me for a thief. Have you a revolver
you would be willing to sell at your own price?"

"What kind of a fellow are you, anyhow?" exclaimed Mr. Westall, who
stood by listening. "Do you mean to say that you have come up here,
intending to ride through these turbulent settlements, without bringing
along something to defend yourself with?"

"That is the most dangerous article I have about me," answered Rodney,
putting his hand into his pocket and drawing out the big jack-knife
Lieutenant Odell had given him the day before he left home. At the same
time he wondered what the Emergency man would have said and done if he
had been aware that the boy to whom he was talking had brought a
revolver with him, and that he had given it to Tom Percival to defend
himself in case he was attacked.

"I never heard of a more foolish piece of business," exclaimed Mr.
Westall, with an air which said very plainly that he had no patience
with such a fellow as Rodney Gray was. "What sort of people did you
think you were going to meet, I should like to know. I suppose you have
heard that there are Northern sympathizers in this State, and that they
are about the meanest folks you will find on top of the earth?"

"I have heard all about it; but I supposed that I should find our own
people in the majority. This is a Southern State, isn't it?"

"In some places they are in the majority and in some they are not,"
replied Mr. Westall. "Of course this is a Southern State; but don't you
know that those Dutchmen in St. Louis have gone back on Governor
Jackson, and that he and the members of the legislature have had to run
for their lives? Why, boy, you may be called upon to defend yourself in
less than an hour after we leave you. Got a revolver to spare, Jeff?"

"Aint got none of that sort," replied the wood-cutter. "There aint
nothing but rifles in the shanty."

"Then I shall be obliged to let you have one of mine," said the
Emergency man, taking a belt down from a peg beside the door, and
drawing an ancient Colt from one of the holste