imed the
Emergency man, opening his eyes. "Not much I couldn't. I tell you, young
fellow, a horse is a mighty ticklish piece of property to have in these
parts unless you can prove a clear claim to him."

"I want some sort of a paper to show to our friends along the road,
don't I?" exclaimed Rodney, who began to think that his chances for
seeing Price's army were getting smaller all the time.

"Oh, that's what you want, is it?" said Mr. Westall. "Well, I'll tell
you what we'll do: You ride with us as far as the road where we turn off
to go to Pilot Knob, and then I will give you a letter that will help
you if you happen to fall in with any of our side; but you must be
careful to know the men before you show the letter to them, for if you
should pull it on a Union man, you would get yourself into trouble. Now
let's get a bite to eat and start for home."

This made it evident that the Emergency man had become discouraged with
his ill-luck, and did not intend to follow Tom Percival any farther.

CHAPTER IX.

ON THE ROAD.

The breakfast which Nels and his assistant placed upon the table in due
time was eaten almost in silence, for those who sat down to it had so
much thinking to do that they had no time for conversation. When Rodney
Gray had satisfied his appetite he opened his trunk and took from it a
pair of saddle-bags, which he proceeded to fill with a variety of useful
articles. His thoughtful mother had packed the trunk as full as it could
hold, and Rodney could not take a quarter of the things with him. He
knew he couldn't when he started; but the trunk was necessary to aid him
in the game of deception he played upon the Baton Rouge telegraph
operators. By taking it aboard the _Mollie Able_, together with a
liberal supply of hay and grain for his horse, he led them to believe
that he was really going on to St. Louis. After filling the saddle-bags,
he rolled his blankets into a compact bundle so that he could strap them
behind him on his horse.

"I have left a good many things in there that I can't take with me,"
said he, as he locked the trunk and handed the key to Jeff. "And if I
don't come back and claim them within a reasonable time, you are at
liberty to take them for your own. How much damage have I done your
commissary department since I have been here?"

"How much damage have you done which?" exclaimed Jeff.

"How much do you want for t