k their nail kegs and got up to act upon Mr. Westall's
suggestion.

"No objection whatever, and it will not take me long to do it," replied
the latter. "He's Union."

"But he doesn't look like a horse-thief," added Rodney.

"Yes, he's Union the worst kind," repeated the Emergency man. "We've
been hearing about his father's doings ever since the election. We don't
know him personally for he doesn't live in our county; but we know of
him, and we've been told that he is a dangerous man. He owns a lot of
niggers, but last election he walked up to the polls, as brave as you
please, and voted for Abe Lincoln; and there wasn't a man who dared say
a word to him or lift a hand to stop him. What do you think of that?"

"I admire his courage," replied Rodney, who had heard the story before.

"So would I, if it had been shown in a good cause," said the Emergency
man. "But that's altogether too much cheek for a traitor, and I don't
see anything in it to admire. This son of his is more to be feared than
the old man, for he has been off somewhere and got a military education;
and the very first thing he did when he came home from school was to get
up a company of Home Guards, and send word to Captain Lyon that if he
wanted help all he had to do was to say so."

Mr. Westall proceeded to light his pipe, which he had previously filled,
and during the operation he winked at Rodney and nodded as if to ask him
what he thought of _that_. The latter felt a thrill ran through every
nerve in him. He was glad to know that his old schoolmate was not
wanting in courage, even if he did sympathize with the Yankee invaders,
and we may add that this feeling was characteristic of the Barrington
boys all through the war. If they heard, as they occasionally did, that
some schoolfellow in the opposing ranks had done something that was
thought to be worthy of praise, they felt an honest pride in it.

"I said that young Percival _sent_ word to Captain Lyon that he was
ready to help him, but that was not strictly correct," continued Mr.
Westall, taking a few puffs at his pipe to make sure that it was well
lighted. "He _took_ word to him personally to be certain he got it,
riding alone on horseback all the way from Springfield to St. Louis.
What passed between him and Lyon we don't know yet, for he won't open
his mouth; but we may find means to make him tell all we care to hear.
When he got through with his business at St. Louis he didn't go directly
h