m, it was said, were pursuing agriculture and all their
ordinary vocations as openly as in time of peace, and more
industriously. They had a regular code of signals, and nearly every
person in the Holetown settlement was in league with them.

When the conscript-guard came along, there would be a rush of
tow-headed children through the woods, or some of the women about the
cabins would blow a horn lustily; after which not a man could be found
in all the district. The horn told just how many men were in the
guard, and which path they were following; every member of the troop
being honored with a short, quick "toot."

"What are you blowing-that horn for?" sternly asked the guard one
morning of an old woman,--old Mrs. Hall who stood out in front of her
little house blowing like Boreas in the pictures.

"Jes' blowin' fur Millindy to come to dinner," she said, sullenly.
"Can't y' all let a po' 'ooman call her gals to git some'n' to eat?
You got all her boys in d'army, killin' 'em; whyn't yo' go and git
kilt some yo'self, 'stidder ridin' 'bout heah tromplin' all over po'
folk's chickens?"

When the troop returned in the evening, she was still blowing;
"blowin' fur Millindy to come home," she said, with more sharpness
than before. But there must have been many Millindys, for horns were
sounding all through the settlement.

The deserters, at such times, were said to take to the swamps, and
marvellous rumors were abroad of one or more caves, all fitted up,
wherein they concealed themselves, like the robbers in the stories the
boys were so fond of reading.

After a while thefts of pigs and sheep became so common that they were
charged to the deserters.

Finally it grew to be such a pest that the ladies in the neighborhood
asked the Home Guard to take action in the matter, and after some
delay it became known that this valorous body was going to invade
Holetown and capture the deserters or drive them away. Hugh was to
accompany them, of course; and he looked very handsome, as well as
very important, when he started out on horseback to join the troop.
It was his first active service; and with his trousers in his boots
and his pistol in his belt he looked as brave as Julius Caesar, and
quite laughed at his mother's fears for him, as she kissed him
good-bye and walked out with him to his horse, which Balla held at the
gate.

The boys asked leave to go with him; but Hugh was so scornful over
their request, and looked so sold