"I am," replied Harry, meeting his fierce stare boldly, "the same whom
you tried to murder on the way to Winton, the same who helped to hold
our house against you and your gang of assassins."

Skelly's dark face grew darker as the black blood leaped to his very
eyes. But he choked down his passion. The mountaineer was not lacking
in cunning.

"Your father and his friends killed some of my men," he said. "I ain't
here now to argy with you about the rights an' wrongs of it, but I want
to tell you that all the people of the mountains are up for the Union.
With them from the lowlands that are the same way, we'll chase you
rebels, Jeff Davis and all, clean into the Gulf of Mexico."

Harry deliberately turned his head away, and stared out of a window
at the green of lawns and trees. Skelly filled him with abhorrence.
He felt as if he were in the presence of a creeping panther, and he
would have nothing more to say to him. Skelly looked at him for a few
minutes longer, drew himself together in the manner of a savage wild
beast about to spring, but relaxed the next moment, laughed softly,
and strode out of the chamber.

"That's one of your men," said Harry. "I hope you're proud of him."

"All the mountain people are for us," replied Dick judicially, "and we
can't help it if some of the rascals are on our side. You're likely to
have men just as bad on yours. I heard about the attack he made upon
Uncle George's house, but it was war, I suppose, and this which we have
here in Frankfort is only an armed truce. You can't do anything."

"I suppose not. Do you know how long he has been here?"

"He arrived at Camp Dick Robinson only two or three days ago, and I
suppose he has taken the first chance to come in and have a look at the
capital."

"With the idea of looting it later on."

Dick laughed.

"Don't be bitter, Harry," he said. "It's going to be a fair fight."

"Well, I hope so, here in this little town as well as on the greater
field of the country. Are you staying long in Frankfort, Dick?"

"Only today. I'm going back tomorrow to Camp Dick Robinson."

"Well, don't you make friends with that fellow Skelly, even if he is on
the same side you are."

"I won't, Harry, have no fear of that."

The two went together to the hotel, and found Colonel Kenton at
breakfast. He welcomed his nephew with great affection, and made him
sit by him until he had finished his breakfast. While he was drinking
his coffee