the troopers.

"If Jeff Davis himself came for them, he couldn't have them!" roared Dr.
Scoville.

"I tell you, sir, one of them is a deserter, and the other is a Yankee."

"I don't care what they are. Report my answer to the provost-marshal;
tell him Dr. Scoville will be responsible for the safety of the men."

"I won't report any such answer to him."

"If a man of you attempts to enter my house, I'll shoot him!" replied the
doctor, taking a rifle from a nail in the entry.

"Very well, sir; if you can shoot any better than we can, you may begin,"
said the soldier. "But, as sure as you fire, you are a dead man."

"And those of you whom I don't shoot will be hung as soon as you report
the death of Dr. Scoville at headquarters."

Whatever the soldiers thought, they were not willing to assume the
responsibility of shooting a man like the doctor, whose splendid mansion
was a guaranty of his wealth and high standing, and whose strong words
assured them that he was a man of influence. Even the possibility of
being hanged in such a cause was not agreeable to contemplate; and the
doctor carried the day against his assailants.

"I don't want to shoot you, Dr. Scoville; but I shall put a guard over
your house, and wait for further orders," said the soldier, who appeared
to be a sergeant.

"Do anything you please; but don't you enter my house. Every man, woman
and child here is under my protection," replied the doctor, as he
restored the rifle to its original position; and the troopers retired
from the door.

Captain de Banyan withdrew from the hall, and joined Somers in the
sitting-room, where he was immediately followed by the doctor. The
situation did not look very hopeful, even to a man of such desperate
fortunes as the bold Tennessean. The house was surrounded by rebel
soldiers, and a report of the case would probably be made to the
provost-marshal; therefore it was not at all likely that the doughty
doctor could long remain contumacious.

"So, my mysterious friend, you are a Confederate deserter, are you?" said
the doctor, as he placed himself in front of the captain, thrust his
hands deep down into the pockets of his pants, and stared at his guest
with all the vigor of an active and piercing eye.

"You say that I am; but I adhere to my original resolution, to say
nothing at present," replied De Banyan, returning the gaze of the doctor
as earnestly as it was given.

"If you were Abe Lincoln himself, you are