rs. "I may be able to
replace it some time or other; but whether I am or not, you mustn't
think of starting for Springfield without a weapon where you can put
your hand on it. It is rather large and heavy for your pocket and you
have no belt; so you will have to shove it into your boot leg. That's as
handy a place to carry it as any I know of."

When both parties are willing to trade it does not take them long to
come to an understanding, and in a very short time some of Rodney's gold
went into Mr. Westall's pocket, and the revolver into the leg of the
boy's boot. In ten minutes more the horses had been brought out of the
yard and prepared for the journey, Rodney placing his own saddle and
bridle on his new steed, and leaving Tom's for Jeff to dispose of in any
way he saw proper.

"I reckon I'm just that much ahead of the hounds," said the wood-cutter,
with a grin. "That hoss-thief won't never dare to come after his saddle,
and mebbe it'll bring me in a few dollars for tobacker. Farewell, and be
sure and drop in as often as you come this way. Look out for yourself,
you Louisanner feller."

The path that ran through the woods to the big road leading from Cape
Girardeau to Lesterville, the place where Rodney's companions would take
leave of him and turn toward Ironton, was all of three miles long, and
so narrow that they were obliged to ride in a single file. Mr. Westall
remarked, with a careless laugh, that it was a good thing for them that
the people living in the vicinity were mostly Confederates, for the
woods on each side of the path were thick, and would afford the nicest
kind of cover for a bushwhacking party.

"I suppose there are plenty of Union people between here and your
settlement?" observed Rodney.

"Lots of 'em; and they are not only dead shots, but they know every hog
path in the woods and are as sneaking and sly as so many Indians.
They'll fight, too. We know that to be a fact, for we've got some of
them for near neighbors."

"Then perhaps it is just as well that you have me instead of Percival
with you," said Rodney. "If you had taken him a prisoner to Pilot Knob,
what assurance have you that you would not have been bushwhacked on the
way?"

"None whatever; but we would have been willing to take our chances on
it."

The Emergency man spoke carelessly enough, but Rodney noticed that he
had not neglected to make preparations for a fight. The single revolver
his belt contained had been transferre