ut he was not ready to take
them out just then. He followed Mr. Westall out of the door, believing
that the latter would be sure to visit Tom's prison before retiring for
the night.

"I must find out where that corn-crib is, for I shall want to go to it
before morning," said Rodney to himself. "And then there are the dogs,
which I should like to have see and scent me before I go prowling around
among them. Tom's got to have help this very night or he is just as good
as a dead cadet."

Mr. Westall undid the blanket which was strapped behind his saddle,
tossed it into the cabin and then stretched his arms and yawned as if he
were very tired and sleepy.

"I am used to the saddle," said he, as Rodney came out of the cabin and
approached the place where he was standing, "but I must say that that
young fellow has given me a hard pull. He must be made of iron, for he
doesn't seem to mind it at all. Let's go and see how he is getting on. I
want to make sure that he is safe before I go to sleep."

"Don't you think this is a cold-blooded, heartless way to treat a boy
who has never done you any harm?" inquired Rodney, stooping down to
caress first one and then another of the large pack of dogs which came
trooping up the minute the cabin door was opened. "Have you a son about
the same age?"

"That's neither here nor there," replied Mr. Westall; and Rodney thought
from the nervous, jerky manner in which he faced about and started for
the corn-crib, that the words had touched him in a tender spot.
"Suppose I have; what then? If he so far forgets the training he has
received ever since he was old enough to know anything, let him take the
consequences."

"You say that young Percival's father is strong for the Union,"
continued Rodney. "If that is the case, didn't he train up his son in
the way he wanted him to go? No doubt he is just as honest in his
opinions as we are."

"Honest!" repeated Mr. Westall, in a tone of contempt. "Can a man
honestly hold opinions that make him a traitor to his State? Percival is
on the wrong side, but that is no fault of ours. We can't and won't have
traitors in our midst preaching up their doctrines and organizing
military companies. Why, do you know that they have bushwhacked scores
of our men all over the State--called them to the door of their homes
and shot them down like dogs, or popped them over while they were riding
quietly along the road? You are a partisan, are you? You don't know the