now whether Gen'l Halliday's in town, sir?"

The Captain smiled. "He's in the next room, seh. He's been undeh
my--p'otection, as you might say, since daylight."

"Gen'l Halliday could stop all this, Captain."

"Stop it? He could stop it in two hours, seh! If he'd just consent to go
under parole to Leggettstown an' tell them niggehs that if they'll
simply lay down they ahms an' stay quietly at home--jest faw a day aw
two--all 'll be freely fo'givm an' fo'gotten, seh! Instead o' that, he
sits there, ca'mly smilin'--you know his way--an' threatenin' us with
the ahm of the United States Gov'ment. He fo'gets that by a wise
p'ovision o' that Gov'ment's foundehs it's got sev'l ahms, an' one holds
down anotheh. The S'preme Cote--Judge March, you go in an' see him; you
jest the man to do it, seh!"

John waited without. Presently father and son were seen to leave Captain
Shotwell's headquarters and cross the square to the Courier office.
There a crowd was reading a bulletin which stated that scouting parties
reported no negro force massed anywhere. At the top of a narrow
staircase the Judge and his son were let into the presence of Major
Garnet and his advisers.

Here John had one more good gaze at Ravenel. He was in the physical
perfection of twenty-six, his eyes less playful than once, but his smile
less cynical. His dress was faultlessly neat. Haggard was almost as
noticeable, though less interesting; a slender, high-strung man, with a
pale face seamed by a long scar got in a duel. One could see that he had
been trying to offset the fatigues of the night with a popular remedy.
Garnet was dictating, Haggard writing.

"Captains Shotwell and Champion will move their forces at once in
opposite circuits--through the disturbed villages--and assure all
persons--of whatever race or party--that the right of the people
peaceably to bear arms--is vindicated--and that order is restored--and
will be maintained." A courier waited.

"At the same time," said Ravenel, indolently, "they can ask if the rumor
is true that Mr. Leggett and about ten others are going to be absent
from this part of the country until after the election, and say we hope
it's so."

Haggard cast a glance at Garnet, Garnet looked away, the postscript was
made, and the missive sent.

"Brother March, good-morning, sir." The Major kept the Judge's hand as
they moved aside. But presently the whole room could hear--"Why, Brother
March, the trouble's all over!--Oh, o