I wouldnt worry; it wasnt for you, he said. Its a long while since weve seen anything so pretty as Miss Torrance and the other one.
Flora Schuyler flushed a little, but Hetty turned to the speaker with a sparkle in her eyes.
Now, she said, that was most worth a dollar, and if I didnt know what kind of man you were, Id give it you. But what about Clarksons Lou?
There was a laugh from the assembly, and the man appeared embarrassed.
Well, he said slowly, she went off with Jo.
Miss Torrance nodded sympathetically. Still, if she knew no better than that, I wouldnt worry. Jo had a cast in his eye.
The crowd laughed again, and Flora Schuyler glanced at her companion with some astonishment as she asked, Do you always talk to them that way?
Of course, said Hetty. Theyre our boys grown right here. Arent they splendid?
Miss Schuyler once more appeared dubious, and made no answer; but she noticed that the man now preceded them, and raised his hand when they came up with the band, which had apparently halted to indulge in retort or badinage with some of those who followed them.
Hold on a few minutes, boys, and down with that flag, he said.
Then a tawdry banner was lowered suddenly between two poles, but not before Miss Torrance had seen part of the blazoned legend. Its unvarnished forcefulness brought a flush to her companions cheek.
Dad, she asked more gravely, what is it all about?
Torrance laughed a little. That, he said, is a tolerably big question. It would take quite a long while to answer it.
They had a street to traverse, and Hetty saw that it was filled with little knots of men, some of whom stared at her father, though as she passed their hats came off. Miss Schuyler, on her part, noticed that most of the stores were shut, and felt that she had left New York a long way behind as she glanced at the bare wooden houses cracked by frost and sun, rickety plank walks, whirling wisps of dust, and groups of men, splendid in their lean, muscular symmetry and picturesque apparel. There was a boldness in their carriage, and a grace that approached the statuesque in every poise. Still, she started when they passed one wooden building where blue-shirted figures with rifles stood motionless in the verandah.
The jail, said Torrance, quietly. The Sheriff has one or two rioters safe inside there.
They found an indifferent meal ready at the wooden hotel, and when they descended in riding dress a wagon with their baggage was waiting outside the door, while a few mounted men with wide hats and bandoliers came up with three saddle-horses. Torrance bestowed the maid in the light wagon, and, when the two girls were mounted, swung himself into the saddle. Then, as they trotted down the unpaved street, Hetty glanced at him and pointed to the dusty horsemen.
What
are the boys for? she asked.
Torrance smiled grimly. I told you we had our troubles. It seemed better to bring them, in case we had any difficulty with Larrys friends.
Larrys friends? asked Hetty, almost indignantly.
Torrance nodded. Yes, he said. You have seen a few of them. They were carrying the flag with the inscription at the depot.
Hetty asked nothing further, but Flora Schuyler noticed the little flash in her eyes, and as they crossed the railroad track the clear notes of the bugles rose again and were followed by a tramp of feet. Glancing over their shoulders the girls could see men moving in a body, with the flag they carried tossing amidst the dust. They were coming on in open fours, and when the bugles ceased deep voices sent a marching song ringing across the wooden town.
Hettys eyes sparkled; the stockriders seemed to swing more lightly in their saddles, and Flora Schuyler felt a little quiver run through her. Something that jingling rhythm and the simple words expressed but inarticulately stirred her blood, as she remembered that in her nations last great struggle the long battalions had limped on, ragged and footsore, singing that song.
Listen, said Hetty, while the colour crept into her face. Oh, I know its scarcely music, and the crudest verse; but it served its purpose, and is there any nation on earth could put more swing and spirit into the grandest theme?
Torrance smiled somewhat drily, but there was a curious expression in his face. Some of those men are drawing their pension, but theyre not with us, he said. Its only because we have sent in all the boys we can spare that the Sheriff, who has their partners in his jail, can hold the town.
A somewhat impressive silence followed this, and Flora Schuyler glanced at Hetty when they rode out into the white prairie with two dusty men with bandoliers on either flank.
VI THE INCENDIARY
On one hand the birch bluff rose, a dusky wall, against the indigo of the sky, and in front of him the prairie rolled away, silent and shadowy. There was scarcely a sound but the low ripple of the creek, until, somewhere far off in the distance, a coyote howled. The drawn-out wail had in it something unearthly, and Muller, who was by no means an imaginative man, shivered a little. The deep silence of the great empty land emphasized by the sound reacted upon him and increased his restlessness.