“We are going to dissolve the Union existing between this county and the State of Mississippi.”
“Yes, I’ll bet you will. How long will it be before the Confederates will send men in here to whip you out? You must think you can stand against them.”
“I don’t think we can stand against anybody,” said Leon. “If the Confederates come in here we shall go into the woods.”
“Well, it won’t take me long to show them where you are,” said Carl, savagely. “I was talking with uncle about it last night, and he says you haven’t got but a few fighting men here, and that it is utterly preposterous for you to think of getting up a rebellion. I know one thing about it: you will all be hanged.”
“And I know another thing about it,” said Leon. “When it comes we’ll be in good company. Will you be down to our convention?”
“Not as anybody knows of,” replied Carl, with a laugh. “I’ll get somebody up here to put a stop to it.”
“Well, I wouldn’t be too hasty about it. You may get hanged yourself.”
“Yes? I’d like to see the man living that can put a rope around my neck,” exclaimed Carl, hotly. “I’ve got more friends in this county than one would suppose. I’ll bet you wouldn’t be one of the first to do it.”
Leon picked up his reins and went on without answering this question. He saw that Carl was in a fair way to pick a quarrel with him, and he had no desire to keep up his end of it. Carl was hot-headed, and when he got mad, was apt to do and say some things that any boy of his age ought to have been ashamed of. He kept on down the road for a mile further, and finally turned into a broad carriage-way that led up to a neat little cottage that was surrounded by shade trees on all sides. This was the house of Mr. Smith—a crusty old bachelor who had always taken a deep interest in Leon. He was Union to the backbone, and if he could have had his way he would have made short work with all such fellows as Carl Swayne. He was sitting out on the porch indulging in a smoke.
“Hallo, Leon,” he cried, as soon as he found out who the new-comer was. “Alight and hitch.”