“I tell you what,” said Jack, “the next time they stop us, if they don't come on us too suddenly, I 'll play crazy.”
“How 'll you do it?” Harry asked.
“Why, I 'll act crazy or idiotic enough, and you can say you're my brother taking me home. We live somewhere in the western part of Missouri, and have been away from home a long time; or perhaps you can locate us in Kansas, near Fort Scott.
“All right,” responded Harry, “we 'll try it on and see how it works.”
They did n't have any occasion for trying it that day, as they encountered no other roving bands. They stopped at two or three houses along the road, partly to ask the way and partly to keep up their assumed characters by asking if anything had been seen of some Home Guards with two horses, one a dark gray with a short tail and one ear notched, and the other a roan that carried his head very high and had a white patch on the side of his nose. The white horse was called Ironsides, Harry explained, and the roan one Tatters. The people were evidently suspicious of strangers, and did not welcome them with a show of delight, but they gave them the directions they wanted about the roads. They were careful not to ask for Fort Scott, or any other place in Kansas, but confined their inquiries within the boundaries of Missouri. Night overtook them at a deserted house, and they at first thought they would sleep there, but after some deliberation concluded it would not be altogether safe. By good luck they found concealed among the trees a small haystack, which not only gave them a sleeping-place, but all the feed they wanted for their horses. They made a supper from their bread and bacon, and then picketed their animals securely, and while one of them watched the other slept. They feared to be surprised during the night or early morning by the owner of the haystack, or some one who knew of its existence, and they naturally wished to have time to get away if possible, by discovering the approach of strangers.
They were not disturbed, and in good time in the morning they took to the road again in the direction of Fort Scott. The direct route would have carried them through Granby and Carthage, but they prudently avoided both these places by taking roads that led around them.
About ten in the forenoon they came to a house where there were signs of habitation, and Harry suggested that it would be a good place for Jack to experiment in “playing crazy.” So they rode up to the house and were met by an old man and two or three women, who came to the door as they were seen approaching.
Jack sprang from his horse and rushed at the man as though he were an old and intimate friend. The man drew back in alarm.
“Don't mind him,” said Harry. “He's crazy, and thinks every old man he sees is his father who died ten years ago.”
“How de do, father?” said Jack, taking the cue from Harry; “so glad to see you, father, after all this time. Where've you been so long?”