"What did he tell you about me that made you know me as quick as you saw me?"
"He told me everything about you—how you had run away from Louisianner kase your folks was all dead set agin the Union, and come up to Missoury thinking to get amongst people of your own way of thinking, and run plum into a nest of traitors before you knowed it."
"That was at Cedar Bluff landing, was it?" said Rodney.
"That's the place. And then he told me how you played off on them wood-cutters till you made 'em think you was hot agin the Union, same as they was, and so they give you a chance to holp him outen that corn-crib and shove him a revolver to take care of himself with."
"And how did he repay my kindness?" said Rodney. "By taking my colt and leaving me a stolen horse to ride."
"This critter wasn't stolen no more'n your'n was," replied the farmer, in tones so earnest that Rodney began to fear he had stepped upon dangerous ground. "That was a lie that man Westall and amongst 'em got up to drive him outen his uncle's settlement. This is his hoss and he's got your'n."
"Where is he now?"
Instead of answering the farmer gave Rodney's arm a severe gripe and shake, and then seized the horse by the nose. A second later they heard a body of men riding along the road in front of the cow-stable.
"Don't give a loud wink," said the farmer, in a thrilling whisper.
"Them's some of Thompson's critter-fellers."