d that I
left home because I had to."

As the refugees never once suspected that Rodney was acting a part, and
that Tom Percival had deliberately deceived them, they asked no leading
questions, and the visitor was very thankful for that. Of course they
were anxious to know how matters stood in Louisiana, and Rodney could
truthfully say that the Union men were so very careful to keep their
opinions to themselves that they were known only to their most trusted
friends. He had heard that there were a good many of them in and around
Mooreville, but had never had the luck to meet any. If a man in his part
of the State had dared to hint that he was opposed to secession, he
would have stood a fine chance of being mobbed. Rodney was glad when the
lunch had been eaten, the last pipe smoked and the refugees stretched
themselves on their beds of boughs with their saddles for pillows, and
drew their blankets over them. Then he was at liberty to think over the
situation but denied the privilege of talking to Tom; and that was what
he most desired. While he was wondering what his next adventure was
going to be he fell asleep.

"That's Merrick's signal," were the next words he heard.

It didn't seem to Rodney that he had been asleep five minutes, but when
he opened his eyes he found that it was just getting daylight, and that
all the refugees were sitting up on their blankets stretching their arms
and yawning; while, faint and far off but quite distinct, he heard a
familiar voice shouting:

"Pig-gee! Pig-gii! Pig-goo!"

"That's breakfast," said Mr. Hobson. "Now, while we are waiting for it,
I suggest that we take a look at that roan colt and make up our minds
what we are going to do with him."

"That's business," said Rodney. "I don't like to let him go, for he was
the last thing my father gave me."

"Then your father must be for the Union," remarked one of the refugees.

"He thinks just as I do," answered Rodney; and then he recollected that
he had never expressed an opinion. He had not been asked, for Tom
Percival had done it for him. He followed the men to the place where the
horses had been picketed, and listened while they talked and tried to
make up their minds whether it would be prudent to give him a trade.
There was not the slightest difference of opinion regarding the good
qualities of the roan colt, for they could be seen at a glance; but here
was where the trouble came in: They hoped to return to their homes at no