“Why do you come blowing around me?” asked Calhoun, nettled by his manner, “I am neither the keeper of my cousin nor the keeper of his horse.”
“Oh, you were so careful of his precious person when I took him prisoner, I did not know but your carefulness might extend to his horse,” replied Conway, with a sneer.
Calhoun felt his blood boil, but controlling himself, he replied: “You did not take Captain Shackelford, and I am surprised that you should make such a statement. You forget that I was there before you.”
“You would have let the fellow go,” snapped Conway.
“Just as Colonel Morgan did, on his parole,” answered Calhoun.
“It was your fault that he slipped through my fingers,” exclaimed Conway, angrily, “but my time will come. I have swore to see him hanged before this war is over, and I shall.”
“Catch your rabbit before you skin him, Captain,” replied Calhoun, with provoking coolness; [pg 115]and the laugh was on Conway, who turned away with a muttered oath.
Conway had entertained a secret dislike to Calhoun ever since their first meeting, partly because he had been chosen by Morgan, instead of Conway himself, to go back to Kentucky, and partly on account of his being Fred’s cousin. But after the affair at Colonel Shackelford’s house, he took little pains to conceal his dislike. Many of the officers of the brigade noticed this, and predicted that sooner or later there would be trouble between the two.
But Calhoun was not through with being bantered over the capture of Prince. Captain Mathews came riding up and with a flourish said: “Ah! Lieutenant, I reckon you have seen this hoss before; what do you think of him?” Now, Mathews was a rough, rollicking fellow, and quite a favorite in the command. He and Calhoun were good friends, and so Calhoun answered pleasantly: “He is the best horse in Kentucky. I know it, for I was once beaten by him in a race. But,” continued Calhoun, with a laugh, “my advice is to guard him very carefully, or Captain Shackelford will get him back, sure. That horse has more tricks than you dream of.”
“I am not worrying,” replied Mathews. “One of your scouts has just had to fork over five dollars to one of my men, on a bet they made at Crab Orchard that I could not get the hoss. Perhaps you would like to bet I can’t keep him?”