As Mr. Diggs was in the act of getting into his carriage the sound of horse's feet came to his ear, and a moment later Oleah Tompkins galloped up to the side of the old rockaway.
"Halloo, Diggs! are you just leaving?" asked Oleah.
"Yes—hem, hem!—I am going home," said Diggs.
"Well, be on hand to-morrow night without fail, now. We want every member of the company there, as we shall go into camp in a day or two."
"Well,—hem, hem, hem!—Oleah, I have almost concluded not to go. I can not—hem, hem!—take up arms against the flag of Washington."
"Oh, that's abolitionist nonsense! What care you for a flag that will not protect you?"
"That's so," said Diggs.
"Then why should we consent to bow our necks to tyrant's heels simply because the great and good Washington fought under a rag with certain stripes and certain stars upon it?"
"That is so. Hem, hem, hem! 'They first have breathed treason.'"
"Yes, they stole our property. The interests of the North and South are directly opposite. They want to ruin us, and we must protect ourselves while we can. We can not live in peace with the North; the next best thing is to separate."