king to get amongst people of your own way of thinking, and run plum
into a nest of traitors before you knowed it."

"That was at Cedar Bluff landing, was it?" said Rodney.

"That's the place. And then he told me how you played off on them
wood-cutters till you made 'em think you was hot agin the Union, same as
they was, and so they give you a chance to holp him outen that corn-crib
and shove him a revolver to take care of himself with."

"And how did he repay my kindness?" said Rodney. "By taking my colt and
leaving me a stolen horse to ride."

"This critter wasn't stolen no more'n your'n was," replied the farmer,
in tones so earnest that Rodney began to fear he had stepped upon
dangerous ground. "That was a lie that man Westall and amongst 'em got
up to drive him outen his uncle's settlement. This is his hoss and he's
got your'n."

"Where is he now?"

Instead of answering the farmer gave Rodney's arm a severe gripe and
shake, and then seized the horse by the nose. A second later they heard
a body of men riding along the road in front of the cow-stable.

"Don't give a loud wink," said the farmer, in a thrilling whisper.
"Them's some of Thompson's critter-fellers."

CHAPTER X.

COMPARING NOTES.

Rodney Gray held his breath and listened, and then he stepped close to
the side of the stable and looked through a crack between the logs. It
was almost dark by this time, but still there was light enough for him
to count the men who were riding by, and he made out that there were an
even dozen of them. They knew enough to move two abreast but not enough
to carry their guns, which were held over their shoulders at all angles,
and pointed in almost every direction.

"Are they guerrillas?" he asked, at length.

"Ger--which?" whispered the farmer. "Them's Thompson's men, and I don't
like to see 'em pointing t'wards the swamp the way they be."

"What's down there?" inquired Rodney.

"Why, he's down there," replied Merrick, in a surprised tone. "Tom
Percival, I mean."

"Anybody with, him?" continued Rodney.

"Half a dozen or so Union men, who had to clear out or be hung by
Thompson's men," replied the farmer. "If you knowed just how things
stand here in Missoury, and how sot every man is agin his nearest
neighbor, I don't reckon you'd ever tried to ride to Springfield."

"I am quite sure I wouldn't," answered Rodney. "How do Thompson's men
happen to k