r eyes was a caution," Nels
interposed. "Why, if you could a heard him talk you would a thought, as
we did, that he had been gunning for Union men and living on 'em ever
since the furse began. He let on that he was in a great hurry to get
over the river to see about getting some guns for Price's men, and we
swallered every word he said."

"Tom always could tell a slick story," was Rodney's mental comment.

"He had a watch chain that was adzactly like your'n, and the minute I
seen it I said to myself that you was him," said Nels in conclusion.

"We were close upon his heels," continued Mr. Westall. "We arrived here
the next morning, about four hours after he left, and when we told Jeff
and his friends what a neat trick had been played upon them, they became
not only angry but very suspicious."

"Unreasonably suspicious," added Rodney, in a tone of disgust. "Does
Jeff or anybody else suppose for a moment that I would have come back to
this camp if I had been in Percival's place?"

"That was what beat my time and I said so," answered Nels. "I never
would have suspicioned you if it hadn't been for that watch chain of
your'n, and the story you told about not knowing the country around
Springfield. The captain of the _Mollie Able_ said you was one of
Price's men, and we took it for granted that you had been riding with
him. But I am satisfied now."

"I am glad to hear it," answered Rodney "But, Mr. Westall, it can't be
possible that you will stand by and see this young fellow punished, when
you know him to be innocent of the crime with which you have charged
him?"

"No; I don't reckon I'll stand by and see it because I have sorter taken
a shine to him, even if he is a traitor," answered the Emergency man.
"There'll be enough to attend to the business without any of my help."

"And he will be hung, I suppose?"

"He'll never stick his meddlesome Union nose into our settlement again,
I'll bet you on that," replied Mr. Westall, knocking the ashes from his
pipe and showing quite plainly by his manner that he did not care to
answer any more questions. "I can't understand why the folks living down
Springfield way didn't attend to his case long ago, and save us the
trouble."

So saying the Emergency man arose to his feet and went after his
blanket, which had been left outside the door with his saddle, and the
movement was taken by the others as a signal that it was time to go to
bed. Rodney's blankets were in his trunk, b