nt an hour
later, and began discussing the situation in his cool, level-headed
way.

"Yes; I have seen the article," said he, when Rodney asked him what he
thought of it, "and it is nothing but the veriest bosh."

"Dick Graham, how dare you?" exclaimed Rodney.

"Oh, I have heard such talk as that before, and right here in this tent
from boys who have known me ever since I was knee-high to a duck,"
replied Dick. "'The tyrants who pollute the capital of the Republic!'
The men who are there, are there because they got the most votes; and in
this country the majority rules. That's me. Now mark what I tell you:
The majority of the people will say that this Union shall not be broken
up."

"Then you believe that might makes right, do you?"

"I don't know whether I do or not. If we have the power, we have the
right to rise up and shake off the existing form of government and form
one that will suit us better. Abe Lincoln said so in one of his
speeches, and that's his language almost word for word. But whether the
Northern people, having the power, have the right to make us stay in the
Union when we don't want to, is a question that is a little too deep for
me."

"They have neither the power nor the right," said Rodney angrily. "But
you always were as obstinate as a mule, and we can't agree if we talk
till doomsday. Now listen while I tell you what I have been through
since I said good-by to you in the Barrington depot."

To repeat what he said would be to write a good portion of this book
over again. He told the story pretty nearly as we have tried to tell it,
with this difference: He touched very lightly upon the courage he had
displayed and the risk he had run in helping Tom Percival out of the
corn-crib in the wood-cutters' camp, although he was loud in his praises
of Tom's coolness and bravery. Dick Graham found it hard to believe some
parts of the narrative.

"So Tom wasn't satisfied with risking his neck by going to St. Louis to
see Lyon, but had to come back through Iron and St. Francois counties
and try to raise another company of Home Guards there. He's either all
pluck or else plum crazy."

"He's got a straight head on his shoulders; I'll bear witness to that,"
replied Rodney. "What do you suppose he will do at home? Where's his
company?"

"When the hunter blows his horn his puppies will howl," answered Dick.
"His men are scattered here and there and everywhere; but he knows where
to find them, and if we