author must have witnessed in Pittsburg. We were laughing over the
account of Teague's adventure with the tar-and-feather committee. Poor
Teague! He should have been spared. His persecutors were guilty, and
not he."

"That's the way of the world, Colonel Morgan. Often the wrong man is
blackened with the tar of calumny. You and I have not escaped. Pardon
me for claiming a few moments' conference. You have had much
experience, know many public men, and are a judge of human nature. I
wish to ask your counsel."

Morgan blinked hard at the candle, nodding his willingness to listen,
and tapping nervously on the table with his middle finger. Burr drew
from an inside pocket a long, narrow memorandum book, written full of
names.

"This is what I call my Roster of the Faithful," he said, and looked
searchingly into the face of the patriarch, whose glum reticence
puzzled him.

"Umph! Faithful to what?"

"To their principles and their friends. I assume that we know each
other's history and political views. Colonel Morgan has not always had
justice from those clothed in brief authority; you have freely
exercised your individual right to better your worldly condition; you
were not acting inconsistently as a citizen when you entered into
perfectly proper contracts with a foreign 'power.'" The speaker
paused, for he was aware of a bristling antagonism on Morgan's part.

"Yes," grunted the old gentleman, "perfectly proper."

Burr hesitated, more and more doubtful of his ground; but his was an
audacious nature. Turning over the leaves of his memorandum book, he
asked,

"Do you know Mr. Vigo, at Fort Vincent, a Spaniard?"

"I ought to know him! I have every reason to believe he was deeply
involved in the British Conspiracy of '88, the object of which was to
separate the States. The design which Vigo abetted was nefarious, yes,
sir, nefarious! yes, damnable! The same disloyal and turbulent spirit
caused the Whiskey Rebellion here in Pennsylvania, which General Dave
Morgan, General Neville, and I crushed out. The diabolic sentiment of
disunion survives yet; Pittsburg tolerates a set of seditious young
men, a nest of vipers of the Vigo species."

The general checked his tirade, noticing that Colonel Burr put the
list of names into his pocket with an air of hurt dignity.

"You must excuse me; I would not be rude, but soldiers use plain
terms. You asked me about Vigo, and you have my opinion."

"Your feeling in regard to Colo