est of the Mississippi, on which he founded the village of New
Madrid. He had expressed sympathy for Aaron Burr, whom he regarded as
a much-abused statesman. The prevailing sentiment among army men
justified the duel with Hamilton.

After dinner, the visitors repaired to the parlor, where was held a
conversation in which Burr was the principal talker. More virulent and
less discreet than usual, he indulged in witty flings at public men
and roundly censured the administration, not aware that most of his
auditors heard him with impatience. Colonel Morgan attempted to
introduce another theme, by referring to the rapid spread of
population westward.

"When I first went out West on my New Madrid scheme, there was
scarcely a family between the Alleghanies and the Ohio. Now we have
three great States. We shall have to remove the National capital to
Pittsburg."

"No, never," said Burr, positively. "In less than five years you will
be totally divided from the Eastern States."

"God forbid! I hope no such disaster will come in my time."

"Disaster or no disaster, the Union will split, or I am a false
prophet. How can it be otherwise? What is to hold us together?
Congress is a shadow, the executive a phantom too thin to cast a
shadow. With two hundred armed men I could drive Congress, the
President and Cabinet into the Potomac; with five hundred I could take
New York City. Ask Colonel Dupeister!"

Dupeister nodded an emphatic yes; but not so did bluff John Morgan.

"By God, sir, you couldn't take our little village of Cannonsburg with
five hundred men!"

"That, then, is because _you_ are at the head of the militia. I should
want your Cannonsburgers in my five hundred. But I talk too loud.
Pardon; let us get out of doors; I would like to go the round of your
plantation and look through the mill. Tom, won't you oblige us?"

While Tom piloted the visitors about the place, the eldest son took
occasion to speak a word of warning to the father. "You may depend
upon it, Colonel Burr is here on a secret errand to you. He will open
himself to you this night. He is engaged in some suspicious enterprise
in which he wants Tom to join."

"What foolishness you talk, my son; Aaron Burr is a soldier, a loyal
man who fought for his country's flag; he would never do a
dishonorable thing; certainly he would not approach _me_ with improper
suggestions."

"Then my precaution is needless. Yet have your mind prepared. Tom
revealed to moth