e they had left it.

We are sorry not to be able to approve all the acts of the hero of this
volume; but John, without asking our opinion, fully indorsed the action of
his brother.

"Fred is a traitor, and so is his father," said he, as they passed out at
the front gate of the little cottage.

"That's so, Jack; and it made my blood boil to hear them talk," replied
Thomas. "And I couldn't help calling things by their right names."

"Bully for you, Tom!" added John, as he turned round, and glanced at the
house to assure himself they were out of the hearing of their mother.
"Between you and me, Tom, there will be music in Pinchbrook to-night."

He lowered his voice, and spoke in tones big with mystery and heavy with
importance.

"What do you mean?" asked Thomas, his interest excited by the words
and manner of his brother.

"There is fun ahead."

"Tell me what it's all about."

"You won't say a word--will you?"

"Of course I won't."

"Not to mother, I mean, most of all."

"Certainly not."

"Squire Pemberton has been talking too loud for his own good."

"I know that; he was in the store this forenoon, and Jeff Davis himself is
no bigger traitor than he is."

"Some of the people are going to make him a call to-night."

"What for?"

"What do you suppose? Can't you see through a millstone, Tom, when there
is a hole in it?"

"I don't know what you mean."

"You can come with us if you like, and then you will know all about it,"
added John, mysteriously.

"But what are you going to do?"

"We are going to make him hoist the American flag on his house, or hang it
out of his window."

"Well, suppose he won't."

"Then we'll hang him where the flag ought to be. We'll pull the house down
over his head."

"I'm with you, Jack," replied Thomas, with enthusiasm.

"We won't have a traitor in Pinchbrook. If we can't cure him, we'll ride
him on a rail out of the town."

"I don't know as you and I ought to get into this scrape," added Thomas,
thoughtfully.

"Why not?"

"You know the squire has a mortgage on our house, and he may get ugly."

"Let him, if he likes. I'm not going to tolerate a traitor because he has
a mortgage on my father's house. Besides, that is a fair business
transaction; the squire gets his interest."

"Mother is afraid of him, as she is of the evil spirit."

"Women are always timid," said John, sagely.

"By George! there comes the very man himself!" exclaimed Thomas, as he
discov