k and his friends must have had the strongest kind of evidence, or
they never would have done such work as this," thought Marcy, as he
turned his steps homeward after satisfying himself that there was
nothing he could do at the fire. "I wish I knew what that evidence is,
and how all this is going to end. I wish from the bottom of my heart
that the fanatics who are responsible for this state of affairs could be
in my place for a few days."

"I hope you asked the captain's daughter to come over here," said Mrs.
Gray, when her son entered the room in which she was sitting.

"Well, I didn't," was the reply. "I meant to, but she didn't give me a
chance to say a word to her. Let her go and bunk with Mrs. Brown, and
then there will be two congenial spirits together."

By this time it was getting well on toward morning, and sleep being
quite out of the question, Marcy and his mother sat up and talked until
breakfast was announced. The burden of their conversation, and the
inquiry which they propounded to each other in various forms, was: What
should they say to their neighbors regarding the events of the night?
Should they tell the story of the attempted robbery, when questioned
about it, or not? There were many living in the settlement who had not
been taken into Beardsley's confidence, who did not know that the Union
men were banded together for mutual protection, and some of them were
Confederate soldiers; and what would these be likely to do if they
learned that there was a little civil war in progress among their
neighbors? The situation was an embarrassing one, and Marcy and his
mother did not know how to manage it.

"I am a-going to trust to luck to help me out," said the boy, who had
been gazing steadily into his cup of coffee as if he there hoped to find
an answer to the question that had been under discussion for the last
two hours. "I don't believe there will be anything done, one way or the
other, until the battle that is going to be fought at Roanoke Island is
decided."

"Why, Marcy?" said Mrs. Gray, in surprise. "What direct influence can a
great battle have on our private affairs?"

"I thought you wouldn't fall in with my notions, but I think I am
right," replied Marcy. "If the rebels win, look out for breakers. This
part of the State will be overrun with soldiers, who will shoot or drive
out every one who is suspected of being friendly to the old flag, and
such fellows as Beardsley and Shelby and Allison w