d if there wasn't
something back of it."

"What do you think there is back of it?" inquired his father.

"I can't imagine, unless there is some sort of an arrangement existing
between him and the Confederate authorities at New Orleans," replied
Rodney. "The Governor lets on that he is strongly in favor of
independent organizations, but he don't act as if he was."

Rodney showed Dick's letter to Captain Hubbard, who posted off to Baton
Rouge with, it; but he got no satisfaction there. There had been no such
Military Bill passed in Louisiana, the Governor said, and there was no
need of it, the situation there and in Missouri was so different. The
latter State was exposed to "invasion" (by which he meant that Captain
Lyon's small company of regulars was likely to be reinforced), but
Louisiana was so protected on all sides that Lincoln's hirelings could
not get at her if they tried.

"Then he wouldn't assume control of the company?" said Rodney.

"No, he wouldn't. I had a personal interview with him at his own house
and did some of my best talking; but it was no use. He was
non-committal--that was the worst of it, and I--Say," added the captain,
in an undertone, "I have sorter suspected that he meant to turn us over
to the Confederacy."

"That's what I have thought for a good while," said Rodney.

"Yes," continued the captain. "So I thought I might as well give him to
understand that we were not going to allow ourselves to be turned over
as long as we remained free men. I showed him your friend's letter, and
hinted pretty strongly that if we could not swear obedience to the
Governor of our own State, the Governor of another State might be
willing to accept us, and you ought to have seen him open his eyes."

"What did he say?"

"He said he hoped that I wouldn't think of doing such a thing as that,
but if I did, he would have to revoke my commission."

"Who cares if he does?" exclaimed Rodney. "Let him revoke it if he wants
to, and you can get another from Governor Jackson."

"That's what I thought. Now, I'll tell you what we'll do--at least we'll
hold a secret meeting after drill and propose it to the boys. Suppose
you telegraph to your chum's father--you know where to find him and you
don't know where to find Dick Graham and ask him if General Price will
accept our services, leaving us our independent organization, provided
we will take the oath to obey the Governor of Missouri."

"I'll do it," answered Rodney