ff."

Murrell gave him a moment of moody regard.

"Twice already I've named the day and hour, but now I'm going to put it
through!" He set his teeth and thrust out his jaw.

"Captain, you're the greatest fellow in America! Inside of a week men
who have never been within five hundred miles of you will be asking each
other who John Murrell is!"

Murrell had expected to part with Hues then and there and for all time,
but Hues possessed qualities which might still be of use to him.

"What do you expect to do for yourself?" he demanded. The other laughed
shortly.

"Captain, I'm going to get rich while I have the chance. Ain't that what
we are all after?"

"How?" inquired Murrell quietly. Hues shifted his seat.

"I'm sensitive about calling things by their short names;" he gave way
to easy laughter; "but if you've got anything special you're saving for
yourself, I'm free to say I'd rather take chances with you than with
another," he finished carelessly.

"Hues, you must start back across Tennessee. Make it Sunday at
midnight--that's three days off." Unconsciously his voice sank to a
whisper.

"Sunday at midnight," repeated Hues slowly.

"When you have passed the word into middle Tennessee, turn south and
make the best of your way to New Orleans. Don't stop for anything--push
through as fast as you can. You'll find me there. I've a notion you and
I will quit the country together."

"Quit the country! Why, Captain, who's talking of quitting the country?"

"You speak as though you were fool enough to think the niggers would
accomplish something!" said Murrell coolly. "There will be confusion at
first, but there are enough white men in the southwest to handle a
heap better organized insurrection than we'll be able to set going. Our
fellows will have to use their heads as well as their hands or they are
likely to help the nigger swallow his medicine. I look for nothing
else than considerable of a shake-up along the Mississippi... what with
lynchers and regulators a man will have to show a clean bill of health
to be allowed to live, no matter what his color--just being white won't
help him any!"

"No, you're right, it won't!" and again Hues gave way to easy laughter.

"When you've done your work you strike south as I tell you and join me.
I'm going to keep New Orleans for myself--it's my ambition to destroy
the city Old Hickory saved!"

"And then it's change your name and strike out for Texas with what
you've p