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[ { "from": "human", "value": "Who can that be?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It may be my brother coming to demand the arms, replied Noah Lyon, as he took one of the muskets from the wall." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Probably he has a load of his supporters with him if it is he." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think we are all ready for them, added the overseer; and he took a gun, and handed one to each of the boys." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I think we had better go out and meet them, for we don't care to have them see what we have been doing here;" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Halt! called Levi in a very decided tone, as he placed himself in front of the team; and the driver reined in his horses." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What is your business here?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Good-evening, Levi, came from the party in the wagon; and the challenger promptly recognized the voice of Colonel Cosgrove." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I wish to see Major Lyon at once." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Here I am, Colonel; but I did not expect to see you again so soon, replied the planter, hastening to the carriage." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But drive on, and we will see you at Fort Bedford." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fort Bedford!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is Fort Bedford you see ahead of you; it is named after Levi, for he originated the idea. To what am I indebted for this unexpected visit to Riverlawn?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "To the fact that we consider you in great danger, Major, and we thought you would be in pressing need of assistance from your friends even this very night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We are here to stand by you, Major," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And to show that we can fight as well as talk," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am very grateful to you for coming to my assistance, for you have all proved this evening that talking is not your only strength," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I see you are all armed and ready for business," }, { "from": "human", "value": "When I heard the sound of your vehicle on the bridge, I suspected that it might be my deluded brother and his supporters coming over here to execute the threat he made at the meeting." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No; after we got away from the ruffians, we talked the matter over, replied Colonel Cosgrove." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Buck Lagger demanded that the major and his cubs should be given up to them when they did not find you and the boys in the column. Then they swore that they would have you. I talked over the situation with our friends here, and we concluded that the ruffians would be over here before morning to capture their victims, and burn your mansion. We decided to come here for this reason,--to warn you of your danger, and help you beat them off if they came." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am very much obliged to you; but you will find everything in readiness for their reception," }, { "from": "human", "value": "You are lighted up here as though you were going to have a ball instead of a fight," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There are plenty of balls in the fort, but they are all twelve-pounders, returned the major as the party alighted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Levi has been at work here while we were at the meeting, and he will explain everything to you better than I can." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "You think the ruffians are coming over here to-night, do you, Colonel Cosgrove?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think they are on their way here now," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is there any other way they can get to your house than over that bridge?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is no other way, replied Levi, when his employer nodded to him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No mob could get through the swamp back of the mansion in the daytime, to say nothing of doing it in the night. The bridge is the only approach; and, if worse comes to worst, we can cut that away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You are in a very strong position, and I don't believe it will be necessary to cut away the bridge, added the military gentleman." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They can only cross the creek in boats." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our boats are all taken out of the water." }, { "from": "human", "value": "With those twelve-pounders you can beat off a regiment. You have everything for the defence except soldiers," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps we can find them when they are needed," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "That's so, added Colonel Belthorpe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think you had better station the two boys, who have proved that they have pluck enough for any duty, where they can give us early notice of the approach of the enemy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We shall want the boys here, and a couple of negroes will do for that duty just as well," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All right, answered the military gentleman, who made no objection to the employment of the servants for this duty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Give each of them a revolver, and tell them to fire three shots if any force approaches." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Where are you going to find your soldiers when you want them, Major Lyon? inquired Colonel Belthorpe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You hinted that you knew where to look for them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I think we had better not discuss that subject just now," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "On the question of enlisting negroes in the army, either as regulars or volunteers, I have not yet come to a decision, said Major Lyon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But in defence of my property, and the protection of my family I should have no objection to using all my hands who were willing to be so employed." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Arm your negroes!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not to fight the battles of the nation, but to protect my wife and children and my property, answered the Riverlawn planter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We can muster but four white men, and two of them are boys. If a mob of fifty or a hundred or five hundred ruffians come over here to hang me and burn my house, shall I let them do so rather than employ the willing hands of men with black faces to defend myself?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By the great Jehoshaphat, I believe you are right! exclaimed Colonel Belthorpe, with a stamp of his foot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I did not look at it in that way. But making soldiers of the niggers is another thing, and I'm not ready for that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We are all agreed so far as the situation on this place is concerned. If there were any State or national force at hand to call upon for protection against these reckless ruffians, I should invoke its aid; but there is none, and we must protect ourselves, added Colonel Cosgrove." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I heartily approve of Major Lyon's purpose to use his negroes to defend himself and his property." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then it is high time to get them in training for this service, said the major with energy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Levi, call in the hands you just sent away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, Bitts, what's the matter now?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Gouge and me done went down to de rapids, whar we kin see de bridge ober de riber, and dar's more'n two tousand men comin' ober it!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Call it fifty or a hundred, Bitts. But no matter, boy; call in all the hands except the two on the creek bridge." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What is your name?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "General, sar," }, { "from": "human", "value": "You are a big fellow; did you ever fire a gun?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Yes, sar; Cunnel Lyon done send me often to shoot some ducks for de dinner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Are you a good shot?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "De boys say I am, answered General modestly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I done bring down tree quails out'n five on de wing, mars'r." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Did you ever fire a rifle?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, sar; Christmas time mars'r cunnel lend us his two rifles to shoot at a mark for a prize ob half a dollar; dis nigger won de prize," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Are you willing to fight for your master?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, sar! answered General with more energy than he had spoken before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ready to be killed for Mars'r Lyon; an' so's all de boys on de place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You will do, added the planter, as he handed him a breech-loader and a small package of ammunition." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Do you know how to use this piece?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, sar; seen 'em before," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now we have a force of twenty-two men, said Colonel Belthorpe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't know about these recruits with black faces, and I have my doubts about making soldiers of them. Fall in, and we will march up to the bridge." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Don't you think we had better put out the lights in the fort, Colonel Belthorpe?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "By no means. I have had fighting enough with cut-throat Indians to satisfy my tastes in that direction, and I am not anxious for any more of it, replied the planter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let the building remain lighted, and it will assure the ruffians that you are awake over here. If they will about wheel and go off, that will suit me better than a fight with them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just my sentiments, Colonel," }, { "from": "human", "value": "The creek is about fifty feet wide by the bridge, said Colonel Cosgrove." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It widens at its mouth to about a hundred. Is there any way by which the ruffians can get over at your boat-pier?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Without a boat there is no way to get across, replied Levi." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They must come across the bridge if they come at all." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There they come!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They have provided themselves with lanterns and torches, said Levi." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We can see just what they are about." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What have they stopped there for, Colonel Belthorpe?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They can see your fort by this time, and the lights have attracted their attention, replied the military gentleman." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They can see that you are ready for them, and perhaps they will not deem it advisable to come any farther." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hope they will not," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Major Lyon, do those rascals know that you took possession of the military stores, or do they only guess at it?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They know the arms they stored in a sink-hole cavern are gone, and they appeared at the meeting to know that I had caused their removal; but I have no idea how or where they obtained their information," }, { "from": "human", "value": "They don't know that three extra white men are with you, and I don't think they would believe you would arm your servants, or that they would be good for anything if you did so, added Colonel Belthorpe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps it would be a good idea to return to the fort and send a twelve-pound shot over the heads of that crowd." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It would let them know that we have the cannon, if nothing more," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You are a lawyer, Colonel; can't Captain Titus recover these arms by process of law?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "There is no law in this part of the State at the present time. Men have been murdered within a few miles of this spot, and no notice has been taken of the fact. Those arms were brought here for the use of the Home Guards, which is the same as saying that they are for the use of the Secessionists. The law won't touch the arms," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They have settled their dispute, whatever it was, and the ruffians are moving again, said Levi." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is too late to send a twelve-pound shot over their heads, and if there is to be any fight, it will be at the bridge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You are right, replied Colonel Belthorpe, after a long look at the enemy; for as the road where they were was parallel to his line of vision, it was difficult to determine whether they were moving or not." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Let them come; and while they are doing so we will have a little drill of the forces." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ruffians are getting pretty near, Colonel," }, { "from": "human", "value": "We are all ready for them," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Order arms," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "There are at least a hundred of them," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And some of them have muskets," }, { "from": "human", "value": "It looks as though some one or more of us might be shot, continued Major Lyon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If there is any man here, black or white, who wants to leave and find a safer place than this may be in a few minutes, he is at liberty to do so. I don't want any man to render unwilling service on my account; and you can make peace with that gang by giving me and my boys up to them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Never! Never! Never!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mars'r Lyon foreber!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Glory to God! We all die for Mars'r Lyon!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Now all hands give three cheers! interposed Colonel Belthorpe; and they were given as vigorously as on the deck of a man-of-war." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That will convince the enemy that we are wide awake, and don't mean to run away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reckon that squad is just a little astonished about this time," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "This is all nonsense!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Titus wishes only to repeat the demand for the return of the arms, added Colonel Cosgrove." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But we can't spare them just yet." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That is their ostensible purpose, but the real one is to see whether or not we are in condition to receive them," }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I am not inclined to wait all night merely to be looked at," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think you had better speak to them, for they can hear you well enough at this distance," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am more inclined to march over the bridge and drive them away than to parley all night with them about nothing, replied Colonel Belthorpe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In military matters I believe in vigorous action." }, { "from": "human", "value": "According to the customs of civilized warfare we should respect a flag of truce, though we believe it is only an expedient to gain time," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What do you want?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We want to settle this business, and I want to see Major Lyon," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Come to the middle of the bridge, and he will meet you," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I suppose I must see him," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Three of us will go with you, and make an even thing of it," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Major Lyon, I think you had better let me do the talking, for the situation must be very annoying to you," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shall be very glad to have you do so, Colonel, answered the planter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am extremely sorry that my own brother is the leader of the ruffians, and I did not expect to see him engaged in such a work. He warned me yesterday that my place might be burned, and that I might be hung to one of the big trees, though he had prevented such an outrage so far." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I suppose the loss of the military stores has roused him to the highest pitch of wrath, which he manifested in his visit to the meeting. But if he can proceed so far as to bring a horde of ruffians to burn your house and hang you to a tree, you can't do less than defend yourself, even if he is your own brother," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I do not shrink from my duty," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "March!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What is your business here?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I stated my position in the meet'n' you held to-night, and you heard what I had to say," }, { "from": "human", "value": "We all heard you; and it is not necessary to repeat it, replied the commander." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What is your business here at this time of night?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We came here for the arms and ammunition that was stole from us last night. They were my property till they were given out to the company," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What company? Do you mean the ruffians you have led over here? They are a horde of lawless men. You have no authority to raise a company, and it does not appear in what service they are to be employed. They have made war upon the peaceable people of this county, as they did this evening at the schoolhouse." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We hain't made war on nobody!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You sent some of your force into the schoolroom to break up a Union meeting; and that was making war upon the people there assembled. The man at your side with the white flag was one that I assisted in putting out. We knew the arms were for the use of these ruffians in terrorizing the whole country, said Colonel Belthorpe in the most emphatic speech; and he used the" }, { "from": "human", "value": "to shift the responsibility from the shoulders of Major Lyon to those of himself and associates." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Captain Titus Lyon, you and your gang have been bullying and persecuting the Union citizens of this vicinity long enough; and from this time they intend to defend themselves in earnest. You have made war on them, and the arms and ammunition were simply the spoils of war." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I come over here to talk with my brother, and not with you," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Colonel Belthorpe represents me, as he does all the rest of us, interposed Major Lyon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You threatened me yesterday to your heart's content, Brother Titus, to burn my house and hang me to a big tree; and I don't care to hear anything more of it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have said all it is necessary to say, resumed the commander;" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Defend him with niggers! shouted Buck Lagger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Are we white men to stand up and fight niggers in this war, as you call it? It is an outrage, and we won't stand it! We will hang every nigger we catch with arms in his possession!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then a white ruffian will hang to the next tree! It will take two to play at that game, responded the commander vigorously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When about a hundred ruffians, composed mostly of white trash, come over here to burn Major Lyon's mansion and hang him to a big tree, he is quite justified in calling in his servants to defend his property and himself." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "We have had enough of your gabble! continued the leader." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We decline any further communication with you under a flag of truce or otherwise. If you and your ruffians don't retire from this vicinity within five minutes, we shall open fire upon you! About face, march!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "We have been terribly frightened, Noah, said Mrs. Lyon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When you and the boys did not come home from the meeting, I was afraid something had happened to you." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now go home, Ruth, and go to bed, added Noah." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We will join you as soon as we have driven off these ruffians, and it won't take long to do it." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What are they about now?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They have sent a dozen men or more down the bank of the creek, and they are out of sight now," }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are looking for a chance to get across the stream, added the commander." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had better stay where they are if they don't intend to go home. Is there any boat on that side of the river?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "No boat of any kind; but there is a lot of logs on the shore, about half-way to the river, and they might build a raft of them. I did not think of those logs before, or I should have rolled them into the creek," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It will be the worse for them if they attempt to cross. Some one said you had served in an artillery company in Tennessee, Mr. Bedford; is that so?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That is so, Colonel; and I know how to handle a twelve-pounder," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How many men will it take to manage one of the guns in the fort?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "If you will give me the two boys, I can send a shot across the creek every five minutes, and in less time when we get a little used to the piece." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then take the boys, if Major Lyon does not object, and go to the fort." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course I don't object, Colonel," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We don't want to kill any of the ruffians if we can help it; but I am decidedly in favor of driving them away. I saw plenty of broken lumber about the fort; and I think you had better kindle a big fire on the shore of the creek, so that you can see over on the other side. If they attempt to build a raft, give them a shot; but not otherwise," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Shall you remain here, Colonel?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not at all; we shall march over the bridge. This is a neighborhood war, and I believe in carrying it on upon peace principles as far as possible, and the first shot must come from the other side," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Ready! he shouted; and the men all brought themselves into position as they had before been instructed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Aim!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Fire!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now, boys, the first order of Colonel Belthorpe was to build a fire, and we will attend to that," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course I obey orders, added Artie," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What do you suppose these stone walls are for, Artie?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They were put up to keep the ice cool originally," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then they ought to keep us cool, said the overseer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When the man with a big mouth opened it, the dentist told him he had opened it wide enough, for he proposed to stand outside. But we don't propose to stand outside, but inside, as soon as we have lighted the fire." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But we have to see what the ruffians are about on the other side of the creek; for you are not to fire a shot unless they attempt to build a raft," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We can look through the port-holes, can't we? asked Deck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If they build a raft they will make a fire the first thing they do, and we can see what they are doing." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We shall find a way to ascertain what they are doing," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now, boys, if you feel as though you might get a bullet through your heads, you can go into the fort, and you will be safe there," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Are you not going in, Levi?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am when the occasion requires; but I want to see what they are about over there," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "The Seceshers are firing at our people!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ruffians are firing, each on his own hook, for there is no order among them," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Colonel Belthorpe will not stand that sort of thing for any great length of time," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They say chance shots sometimes do the most mischief, or I have read it in some story, said Deck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I hope one of them will not hit father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course any one of us is liable to be hit while this game is going on. Perhaps you had better go into the fort, for this fire will soon attract the enemy's attention," }, { "from": "human", "value": "When you get ready to go in we will go in with you," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is no need of exposing all three of us to the changes of a shot." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then one of us boys will stay out, for you are nearly twice as big as either one of us, and therefore twice as likely to get hit," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There! exclaimed Levi, without noticing the remark," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What is it? I don't hear anything," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Don't you see that the colonel has halted his force? Now they have formed a line across the road," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "That's Indian fighting, said Levi." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Our men, from their position, can't see these skulkers, who will have a good chance to pick off some of them at their leisure. We must attend to this matter." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I don't believe we hit anybody with those last shots; for as soon as my man dropped and the others could see where the shot came from, they ran away or moved to the other side of the tree," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "There's a light down the creek, Levi!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's where the logs lay, added the overseer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The squad that was sent down the bank of the stream has got to work at last." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps they have been at work for the last half hour, suggested Artie." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They didn't need any light to enable them to roll the logs into the creek and build a raft." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Quite right, my boy; you have hit the nail on the head. By the light of the fire I can now see the raft, though they haven't finished it," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hadn't we better fire at them?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You might as well fire at the moon, my boys, returned the overseer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You haven't had much practice with these breech-loaders, and you couldn't hit anything at the distance they are from us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But where is our army?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Colonel Belthorpe don't seem to be following up the enemy, replied Levi." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps, as the ruffians are retreating, he is satisfied to let them go home and dream over their work of this evening. The torches of the main body of the enemy seem to be going out, and very likely their stock of birch bark is all gone. They are about half-way between our force and the raft." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are within rifle-shot of us, anyhow, suggested Deck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We might give them a little more waking up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Don't be too enthusiastic, Mr. Lyon. We don't win it to kill any more of them than is absolutely necessary, said the overseer rather more seriously than usual." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They have the raft in the water, and we will go in the fort and see what can be done for them." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now you may go outside, and see what you can see, continued Levi." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't mean to hit the men there, or even the raft; but I want you to notice what effect the shot produces upon the ruffians at the work." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All right, Levi; sing out when you are going to pull the lock-string," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ready! Fire!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Did it hit anything, boys?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Nothing but a big tree beyond the road, and a large branch fell to the ground," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had an idea that you had been fooling us at first, Levi, added Artie," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reckon we needn't fire another shot, for the ruffians won't go near that raft again, added Levi." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I fired over their heads, as I told you I should, and nobody was hurt by that shot. I dropped one man behind that tree, and that is all the mischief I have done." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Are you sorry for that one?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am sorry for him, but not that I hit him, for he might have killed two or three of our people from his hiding-place behind the tree. I don't believe in killing anybody as long as it can possibly be avoided; but the ruffians began the shooting, and they are responsible for the consequences. At least half a dozen Union men have been killed in this county by those ruffians, or those like them; and your father might have been swinging from a big tree by this time if we hadn't taken the bull by the horns. No, I am not sorry for anything I have done!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And the house would have been burnt down, and mother and the girls subjected to the insults of these miscreants," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can you see anything of our people over there, Deck?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not a thing; it is too dark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't believe there will be anything more to do at the fort to-night, though the affair may not be over yet, continued Levi, after he had anxiously peered through the gloom to discover the rest of the defenders of Riverlawn." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I want you, Deck, to go up to the bridge, and down the creek road, and ascertain what our people are doing. You may report to Colonel Belthorpe that we have driven off the builders of the raft, and that the main body of the ruffians have fallen back from the road into the grove." }, { "from": "human", "value": "All right, Levi," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Where is my father, Frank?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He's down the road with the rest of them; but I reckon they are all marching back to the bridge," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What are you going to do with all these horses?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Dunno, Mars'r Deck, what they are for; but Mars'r Lyon sent us for them." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Who is driving that team?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Me, Mars'r Deck," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who's me?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Clinker, sar, wid Bitts and Filly," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What are you doing with the wagon over here?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Cart'n' off de wounded, mars'r." }, { "from": "human", "value": "How many have you?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "On'y two, sar." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You haven't got them all, then, added Deck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is another opposite the fort, near a big tree, who was hit by Levi, firing from the other side of the creek." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We go for him when we done unload dese we got," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Can you tell me where my father and the rest of them are?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "In de grove, Mars'r Deck. Wen de ruff'ns done runned off dat way Mars'r Belt'orpe lead de sodjers arter 'em." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Levi sent me over to report what we have been doing," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I heard the report of one of your guns, and I concluded that you had work on your hands," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not much work, Colonel. The ruffians were building a raft at the pile of logs, and we fired over their heads, as ordered. The big branch of a tree came down, and all the men on the raft and near them ran into the woods. The road is all clear of them, and they are not going home by the Rapids Bridge." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No, the villains! exclaimed the commander." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They have other business on their hands. I am afraid we have been too tender with them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One thing more, Colonel, and I have done, continued Deck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "When the ruffians retreated before your fire, those who had guns stationed themselves behind the trees and began to fire at you. Then we three opened upon them with the rifles, and when Levi fired a man dropped. After that we saw nothing more of them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All right, my boy, added the colonel, hurrying his march." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I thought the villains were only making a detour, intending to reach the Rapids Bridge; but I find they are marching in the direction of my plantation." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Where are you going now, Clinker?" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Mars'r Deck done tell me a man dropped behind a tree down de creek, and I'm gwine for him," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Go over and get the small wagon for that; we want this one," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Where are you going, father?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We are satisfied that the ruffians are going over to Colonel Belthorpe's plantation, to do there what they intended to do here, and we mean to get there before they do, replied Major Lyon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We believe that everything here is safe for the present." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Filly! called Major Lyon, addressing a mulatto who had the reputation of being a very intelligent fellow," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I have no horse, father," }, { "from": "human", "value": "You will go in the wagon, replied his father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I see that you are gaping, and you must be very tired. Get in; the body is filled with hay, and it will give you a chance to get rested." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Cross Roads, where four highways came together. At this point the one from the county town passing through Barcreek village crossed the stream. Another road branched off here, leading up the creek, from which the private way over the bridge led to Major Lyon's mansion. It continued half a mile farther up the creek, and then turned to the north-east. This was called the" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "New Road," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Old Road," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I don't believe the villains can get there before we do, said Colonel Belthorpe, as Major Lyon galloped his horse to his side." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I had anticipated the events of to-night, I should have been prepared for them. My overseer is not a Union man, and I am afraid he will not do his duty. My place is not so well situated for a defence as yours, Major." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I believe we have force enough to drive the ruffians again, for they don't like the smell of gun-powder any better than other bullies," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My son Tom is at home, and my nephew, Major Gadbury, is visiting at Lyndhall. But all of them, including my two daughters, have gone to a party at Rock Lodge. I suppose you know the place, Major?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not by that name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is over on the old road, close by Rock Hill, from which it takes its name. You must have met Captain Carms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have met him, and we have called upon him, but I never heard the name of his place before." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just at the foot of Rock Hill there is a cart-path connecting the two roads, and the ruffians may come through by that passage, though it is very rough. Most of our stone comes from the quarry there, and the teams make bad work with the roads." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The enemy can't be a great way behind us by this time," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We haven't wasted any time, and it is some distance they had to travel round by the Cross Roads," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Cristofus! Wat's dat?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "replied Mose, who was by his side on the front seat." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dar's trouble dar!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reckon do screeches comed out'n de cross-cut," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I reckon we mus' woke Mars'r Deck," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Good, Clinker! shouted Deck, as he saw the blacksmith standing with his musket in his hand, busy doing what he had undertaken." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Keep the fire up!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now follow me, boys! shouted Deck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You had better walk over to the fire, miss, he added to the young lady redeemed from the hands of the ruffian." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Clinker will see that no harm comes to you." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Both fall back this way, gentlemen!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now fire at them, one at a time!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Don't fire again, but follow me!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I am sorry you didn't kill him!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I had to be careful not to hit the lady, replied Deck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But we have driven them off. Now, boys, in line! shouted the young leader to his men." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Face the woods!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I HAD TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO HIT THE LADY." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Ready! he continued." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Aim! Fire!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I don't know you, sir, but we are under ten thousand obligations to you for this timely assistance," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My name is Dexter Lyon, replied the young defender." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What is yours?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tom Belthorpe, returned the other, who appeared to be something over twenty years of age." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We have been to a party with the girls at Rock Lodge, and were on our way home." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then you are the son of Colonel Belthorpe. Who is the other gentleman?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That is Major Gadbury, who is spending a week at my father's plantation," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I never was so frightened in all my life," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is all over now, and I would not mind any more about it," }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is Mr. Dexter Lyon, Major, the son of our neighbor, said Tom, presenting the leader of the colored battalion, though Deck was somewhat abashed at the formality, and to hear himself" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am glad to know you, Captain Lyon, replied the Major, grasping his hand and wringing it till the boy winced." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have rendered us noble and brave service, and we shall all be grateful to you as long as we live. This is Miss Margie Belthorpe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am delighted to see you, Mr. Lyon!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "If you please, we will go over to the fire where the other lady is waiting for you, said he, as he started for the point indicated." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Fall in behind and follow us, boys," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have never happened to meet any negroes in arms before, said Tom Belthorpe, as he walked along with Deck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But they seem to be ready for business." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are indeed; and these boys are as brave as any white men could be," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "This is my sister, Miss Kate Belthorpe," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Oh, I am so glad you came when you did, Mr.----" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dexter Lyon," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mr. Lyon; and you were as brave as a lion! exclaimed Kate, as she took the hand of Deck; and either because she had witnessed the reception her sister had given the hero, or as an inspiration of her own, she promptly kissed him on both cheeks, and Deck felt as though he had fallen into a barrel of sugar." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You grappled with that villain, just as though you had been as big as he was, and held on to him till one of your boys knocked him into the hole with his fist. You are a brave fellow, and I shall remember you as long as I live." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And 'none but the brave deserve the fair,'" }, { "from": "human", "value": "How did you happen to get into this scrape, Mr. Belthorpe?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We were all invited to a party at Rock Lodge, and we went. The governor couldn't go, for he insisted upon attending a Union meeting at the Big Bend schoolhouse, replied Tom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he promised to call for us on his way home, for he drove us to the Lodge himself. Most of the guests left by midnight, but father did not come, and we could not walk home. But at three o'clock Captain Carms volunteered to send us home when we became impatient." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My father and I went to that meeting, and so did some of these ruffians that committed this outrage," }, { "from": "human", "value": "But these scoundrels are not Union men," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But some of them were there, all the same, and some of them got put out. But it is a long story, and we had better be moving before we tell it." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Where is Colonel Belthorpe, General? inquired Deck, after he had saluted the boys in his usual familiar manner; for he had none of the haughtiness of those who were" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Don't know, Mars'r Deck; he and the oder gen'lemen done went ober dat way, replied General." }, { "from": "human", "value": "De ole road's ober dat way, and I 'spect dey went to look out for de ruffi'ns." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They won't be here for half an hour or more," }, { "from": "human", "value": "You done see 'em on de road, mars'r Deck?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have seen some of them, General." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Dey was ober on de ole road, mars'r, I t'ought." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I was afraid you had run away and left us, Mr. Lyon," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Please don't 'mister' me, replied Deck, laughing." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It makes me feel just as though I was a dude." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, you are not a dude," }, { "from": "human", "value": "And I don't run away, either." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's so! exclaimed Major Gadbury with decided emphasis." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I really wonder that you did not run away instead of pitching into that scoundrel who was carrying off Miss Kate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I couldn't have done that if I had tried while the lady seemed to be in such a dangerous situation, answered Deck, as he seated himself as near Miss Kate as he could find a place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I have been talking myself all the time since we started from the cross-cut, and I don't know yet how you happened to get into this scrape." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We don't know much more about it than you do, Mr.----" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Deck," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Deck, if you insist upon it, Mr. Lyon, laughed the major." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We left Rock Lodge, and Tom told the driver to go by that cross road. It was a terribly rough passage we had of it, and I think we went over rocks a foot high." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I told you in my account of the troubles of the night, the ruffians, after they had been driven off from Riverlawn, took the old road, and Squire Truman found that they were going to this mansion, said Deck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Didn't you see anything of them before you turned into the cut-off?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We neither saw nor heard anything." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The main body of the ruffians could not have been very far down the road. I don't see how Buck Lagger happened to be where he was with the rest of his gang," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He appears to have had six men with him as nearly as I can make it out," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't know what he was doing there, but I can guess," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But which was the fellow you call Buck Lagger?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "He was the one who captured Miss Margie, and whom I wounded with the shot from my revolver, replied Deck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am sorry to say that my Uncle Titus is a Northern doughface, and is the leader of these ruffians. He bought the arms and ammunition of which we took possession at the sink-hole. I believe he hates my father on account of his Unionism and his taking of the arms worse than any man who is not his brother." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have heard something about him since I have been at Lyndhall," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Buck Lagger is his lieutenant and supporter, and I have no doubt Captain Titus sent him to the schoolhouse to disturb the meeting. He carried the flag of truce to-night at the bridge over the creek when his leader demanded the return of the arms, Deck explained." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Though I don't know any more about it than you do, I have no doubt Captain Titus sent this scalliwag ahead of the main body to see that all was clear." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As scouts," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, sir; as scouts. As the ruffians had been severely punished in the fight from the bridge, and by the shots from Fort Bedford, they were likely to be more cautious than they had been before. They were whipped out at every approach to Riverlawn. Captain Titus may have found out that Colonel Belthorpe was on the way to his plantation to protect it with force enough to do his ruffians a good deal of mischief. I think Buck Lagger was sent out to obtain information." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That is a reasonable supposition," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course he could not expect to find the colonel and his force on the old road, and he was going by the cross-cut to the new road, which passes by the bridge over Bar Creek, Deck proceeded, perhaps feeling that he had an inspiration of wisdom as well as of heroism." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When he came to the cross-cut he must have seen that the Lodge was lighted." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What you say reminds me that our party stood for some time on the portico talking with Captain Carms and his family about an excursion up the river which Tom suggested as we came out of the house. The wagon was standing before the door waiting for us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I haven't any doubt Buck was near enough to hear what you said, interposed Deck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Probably he had sent his scouts up the cross-cut, and wanted to see why the mansion was lighted up at three o'clock in the morning. He understood that those who were to go in the wagon belonged to Colonel Belthorpe's family." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The house is close by the road, and he could easily have seen who we were," }, { "from": "human", "value": "He had been on the creek bridge when the colonel talked with Captain Titus, and he saw that he was in command of the forces there. Very likely he knew it was he who gave the order to fire upon his party below the bridge. He must have been as hard down on your father as he was on mine, Mr. Belthorpe. When he saw your two sisters ready to get into the wagon, he had some trick in his head to obtain a hold upon your father. The two ladies were to be hostages in the hands of the ruffians for the conduct of your father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think you have solved the problem, Deck, and only your bravery and skill saved the girls," }, { "from": "human", "value": "My father would have burned his buildings himself to recover my sisters, for no man was ever more devoted to his children than he is, added Tom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If Buck had carried off the girls he would have had a tremendous hold on him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I suppose the villain would have confined us in some hovel, under guard of these miscreants, while he negotiated with my father with all the odds in his favor, Miss Margie commented." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Perhaps that was his way to have the arms returned to Captain Titus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have saved us!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I see you have arrived, said the devoted father." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have been worrying about you the last hour; but I concluded Captain Carms would send you home. I left my wagon at the stable of a friend near the schoolhouse, and I have been so busy all night that I have hardly thought of you, for I knew that you would be safe at Captain Carms's." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But we haven't been safe, papa," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Why, what has been the trouble, Kate?" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "It seems that a fight has already come off in the cross-cut, said Colonel Cosgrove, with some excitement in his manner." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Major Lyon's man tells us you had a stormy time in the road, Deck. We did not wait to bear the particulars." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "It is all true, every word of it, papa!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Deck, I am your debtor for life! exclaimed Colonel Belthorpe, detaching himself from the twining arms of his daughter, and rushing to the hero of the night with both hands extended." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You are a noble and brave fellow, Deck, and you will make your mark in the world!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Upon my word, I think he has made his mark already! added Major Gadbury." }, { "from": "human", "value": "At any rate, he made it on the shoulder of Buck Lagger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My son, you have done well, said Major Lyon very quietly, as he took the boy's hand." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am glad I brought you with me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But, father, I was beaten by the ruffian who was holding Miss Kate; he was too much for me, and he would have shaken me off if Mose had not come up and given the fellow a sledge-hammer blow with his fist which knocked him into a hole," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Where is Mose? demanded the father of the girl, as he took a gold piece of money from his pocket." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Send for him, and let--" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Excuse me, Colonel, interposed Major Lyon, placing his hand on his arm." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I see what you mean, and I must beg you not to reward him, for Mose did no more than every one of the faithful boys would have done if he had had the opportunity, though all of them have not so hard a fist as he." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just as you say, Major; but I feel grateful to Mose, as I do to Deck, for the hard hit he made for the safety of my daughter, replied the planter of Lyndhall." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We shall talk of this affair for the next week; but just now perhaps we ought to attend to the duty of the present moment. I sent the mounted men from Riverlawn down the old road for a mile to reconnoitre, and those who came in the wagon over to the new road to notify us of the approach of the enemy. We went over there on our arrival to arrange a plan for the defence of the place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "After hearing what transpired at the cross-cut, I doubt whether Captain Titus will march his army up here," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think he will, added Colonel Cosgrove." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He is the maddest man I ever met in my life, and he is determined to recover the arms." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the--I mean Captain Titus will try to gain his point by some infamous trickery such as his lieutenant attempted at the cross road," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Your mansion is safe for the present, Colonel Belthorpe, said Major Lyon, rising from the seat he had taken." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We might as well fight the battle, if there is to be one, on the road near your house. I suggest that we send our whole force down the new road, and drive the ruffians across the river." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What is the matter, General?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not'in' de matter, Mars'r Cunnel, but de rebels is on de road, comin' dis way," }, { "from": "human", "value": "How far off are they?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "About a mile, mars'r; but I reckon some ob 'em done went home, for dar isn't more'n half as many as we done see near de creek bridge." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I should think they might have got enough of it by this time, replied the colonel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What do you want now, Sam?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Another man here wants to see you, mars'r, replied Sam, as he presented Mose, who had just come to the front door, where a servant does not usually come in the South." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He's a footman, an' not a hossman, mars'r." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What is your name, my boy?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Mose is w'at dey all calls me, sar, but my truly name is 'Zekel. De ruffins is stopped half a mile from whar we com'd out on de ole road, mars'r," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Did you go near them, Mose?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not berry near, mars'r: but dey done make a fire, so we see 'em plain nuff." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The main body of the ruffians cannot very well be on both roads," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No, sar; but I reck'n Cap'n Titus done dewide his army, and he's gwine to take de place on de front and on de back," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Quite right, my boy; you have a head on your shoulders, and we shall not soon forget the hit you gave the fellow that was carrying off my daughter, added the colonel, surveying the leader of the foot party, as he proved to be." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How far off is this party at the fire?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "About half a mile, mars'r. I reckon de fire is a signal to dem as is on de new road," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All right, my boys; now return to your men, and we will be with you soon," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I think we are ready for the enemy, said Major Lyon;" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "As I have said before, my place is not as favorable for a defence as yours is, Major Lyon, replied the commander." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We have no stream or swamp to cover our position, and we must act on open ground. Now, what force can we take into the field?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We have all that we had at the bridge," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Including Dexter, we have five white men here, added Major Lyon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Eight of my boys are mounted, and seven came over in the wagon, and all of these are armed with breech-loaders, so that they can fire seven shots apiece. That makes twenty." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And here we add to our number," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Certainly; we expect to take part in any fight that is to come off," }, { "from": "human", "value": "We have three repeating rifles in the house, two double-barrelled bucking guns, and four revolvers. We laid in a stock of arms when the horse-stealers were at work in this county, said the commander." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I have never put arms in the hands of my negroes." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I never did till to-night, and I found that all mine were as willing to fight as to work for me, the major explained." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You have an overseer, of course." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have; but I have my doubts about him. Tilford is rather a brutal fellow, and I believe he is a Secessionist at heart, though he has never said anything to commit himself. The worst thing I know about him is that he associates with Buck Lagger." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Make him face the music, governor, added Tom." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If he is not willing to stand by you at such a time as this, he ought to be fired off the place." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Tilford, something like a hundred ruffians are coming up the two roads for the purpose of burning my mansion and hanging me to the nearest tree, Colonel Belthorpe began in a mild tone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the aid of my friends here, I intend to defend myself, my family, and my property." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Are them niggers with guns strapped on their backs your friends?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They are brave men, who have this night defended their master from an attack of the reprobates who are marching upon my place; and I honor them for their bravery and fidelity, for not one of them has flinched! returned the colonel vigorously." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I want to know now upon whom I can depend to defend me from the violence of these villains who are coming down upon me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reckon you can depend upon your niggers, but you can't depend on me! replied the overseer, edging towards the door." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have fotched all this on yourself by turning abolitionist!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If assisting my neighbor and friend to defend himself and his family from the attacks of a pack of ruffians is being an abolitionist, then I am one with all my mind, heart, and soul!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Them gentlemen you call ruffi'ns is my friends, Colonel Belthorpe, and I don't never go back on my friends, not unless they turn abolitionists, and I ain't go'n' to fight ag'in 'em, added Tilford, working nearer to the door." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reckon my time's about done on this place." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Quite done!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Go and join your friends! I will order every man with a gun to shoot you if you are seen about the place in five minutes!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "The boys will all stand by you, mars'r," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then call two of them" }, { "from": "human", "value": "They're all right here, mars'r," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Ober on de ole road," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Do you know what this flag means, you nigger?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, sar! Mars'r Belthorpe won't hab no more ob dat nonsense," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Tell him I want to see him under a flag of truce!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Take in your flag of truce, or I will fire upon it! shouted the colonel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No more fooling! I don't parley with ruffians!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Now, my boys, fire at them at will, just as you please," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Uncle Dave." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "We have made a clean sweep here," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "It has been an easy victory, replied the gentleman from the county town." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But they were nothing but a mob; and your boys seem to be lunatics. They are likely to kill the whole of them before they get through." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They will not kill one of them unless it is by accident, for I heard Uncle Dave order them as they took to the fields not to do so; and I notice that when a man drops on the ground they let him alone," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We have nothing more to do here, unless we go down the road and pick up the wounded, for I see half a dozen of them in front of us, though they are all sitting up and looking about them, so that none of them have been killed," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Our occupation here appears to be gone, continued Colonel Belthorpe, as he looked over the fields from which the combatants had disappeared, with the exception of those who were unable to run away." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Major Lyon over on the old road may not have been as fortunate as we have been, and we must go over and re-enforce him. General!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Here, sar!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We are going over to the old road to help out Major Lyon. You will leave two of your men here, one mounted, and the other on foot, to watch the enemy; the others will go with me," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Yes, sar, answered General, as he detailed the two scouts." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reckon we done finished 'em ober here, Mars'r Cunnel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "No doubt of it, General; and I hope Major Lyon has done as well over on the old road." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Where are you going now, papa?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We have driven off the ruffians from this side, and we are going over to assist Major Lyon, replied the colonel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam, you will remain here, and look out for the house," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Don't shoot, Colonel Belthorpe!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What are you doing here, Tilford?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am wounded and in great pain," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then why don't you join your friends?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I made a mistake to-night, and I did not know who my friends were," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Sam! shouted the planter to the house servant, who had followed the party nearly to the stable; and the boy immediately presented himself before his master." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Take the overseer to his room, and do what you can for him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Thank you, Colonel!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I don't understand that gathering," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It looks as though the enemy were using the flag of truce ruse over here," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't believe Major Lyon would fool with them. They are marauders and disturbers of the peace, and I think he is as disposed to deal summarily with them as I am, added the commander." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But we will ride up to the place, and we shall soon know what is going on." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Who are these men coming into the road just ahead of us? asked Major Gadbury, pointing to three men who were making their way through the field to the road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The fire on the hill don't give quite light enough to enable me to make them out; but I suppose they are ruffians who have made their way from the new road." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't know what they are, but we will go and see; and they rode forward about a dozen rods to the point where the men were emerging from the field." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Who goes there?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Is that you, Mars'r Cunnel?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Uncle Dave!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's the parson," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What are you doing over here, Uncle?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "We done have nothin' more to do over yonder, replied the preacher." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The boys are all movin' over this way." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But where are the ruffians that retreated from the new road?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The boys fell upon 'em and drove 'em over to the west, sar, the parson explained." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We don't kill any of 'em; but we bang 'em so they hold still on the ground. We think they was comin' over here to help the ruffians on this side, and we come over to 'tend to 'em." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All right, venerable Uncle, laughed the colonel." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But can you tell me what is going on upon the hill yonder?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't know, Mars'r Cunnel. I don't see 'em till now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There seems to be no fighting going on up there, said the commander after he had studied the situation some time, though he could not understand it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If the ruffians are moving over here, as Uncle Dave says, we shall be needed in that quarter." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't think so, Mars'r Cunnel, for we maul the ruffians so that they won't want to fight no more for two weeks and a half," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You may stay here, and if your flock come to this road, send them up to the hill where we are going," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "My father isn't much of a soldier, any more than the rest of us, said Deck, as the major gave the order to halt." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If we fire at those scalliwags, they will scatter and run away, as they did at the creek bridge, and be all ready to burn a house or run off with a girl as soon as they get the chance. I believe we ought to punish them so that they will remember it till to-morrow or next day." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just my idea, replied Tom." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These niggers stand up to the fight like white men. I believed they would all run away at the first shot from an enemy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not one of them flinched on the bridge or in the road when the ruffians fired into them, my father says, for I was not there then; I was in the artillery service just at that time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the artillery service!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Exactly so; you have heard the story of the capture of the arms at the sink-hole; the cannon are mounted in the ice-house. If you see one of our darkeys flinch when the firing begins, I wish you would let me know, and we will cut down his hominy ration, rattled Deck, as enthusiastic as though he had slept all night instead of half an hour." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I have got an idea." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You seem to have one in tow all the time." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I want you to mention it to my father if you believe in it, and he will think more of it than if I put it forward." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Your father seems to think a good deal of what you say and do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He will think I am too old for my years; but he is the best father I ever had, and I want him to come out of this scrape with flying colors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But what is your idea, Deck?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think my father is waked up to the bottom of his boots; he won't fool with any flags of truce, and he will order us all to fire as soon as the time comes, though his own brother is in the gang ahead of us, or in the one over on the other road." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am sure he won't wince." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And the moment we fire, the ruffians will all run away, which the darkeys won't do. That is just what I have seen them do twice to-night. I wonder what they came over here for if they didn't mean to fight." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They came over here to burn your father's house and that of mine; but I reckon they didn't expect to get the reception Major Lyon had prepared for them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They will run away, Tom, repeated Deck;" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not if we can prevent it; for I believe that hanging would do good to some of them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We can prevent it if my father will adopt your suggestion," }, { "from": "human", "value": "My suggestion! I haven't got any suggestion, and I don't know what you are talking about, Deck, replied Tom, puzzled with the remark." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All the way I can see to manage this affair is to rush at the ruffians and drive them off." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We don't want to drive them off till we have given them a little wholesome discipline. I suppose you know what a flank movement is, fellow-soldier?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have an idea what it is." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We used to practise it when we were snowballing on sides away up in the glorious State of New Hampshire, if we got a chance to do it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We don't practise snowballing much down here, and I never was engaged in a flank movement at a snowball match. But I have an idea that it is getting around the enemy, whether in a battle or a game, and taking them on the side or in the rear." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You could not have stated it any better if you had been studying the art of war or the science of snowballing all your lifetime," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Be a little more serious, Mr. Lyon, and I shall understand you better," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I will be as serious as the parson at a funeral, Mr. Belthorpe. We have plenty of men to flank them handsomely; for it don't take a great crowd with seven-shooters in their hands to hold that gang where they are." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I see what you mean now." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What kind of ground is it over on the left of this road, Tom?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is one of our best fields." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can horses travel on it?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Just as well as on this road." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Then your suggestion to the commander-in-chief of the forces is that he send a detachment of six men, mounted and armed with repeating rifles, through the field on the left, with orders to fire on the ruffians when the fight opens," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is a brilliant idea, and I will do it at once," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hold on a minute, and suggest that the detachment be under the command of Captain Tom Belthorpe," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shall amend that by substituting the name of Captain Deck Lyon," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Don't do that!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "How many men do you need?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The four mounted men from your place, Deck, and myself," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Very well, I give you the order to that effect; but don't you think some older person than Dexter had better be in command?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Decidedly not, Major! answered Tom with emphasis." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I believe Deck is the smartest fellow in the crowd, except yourself." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All right; have your own way, then, replied the commander." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But can you tell me the nature of the land on the right hand side of the road?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The creek runs from above the mansion in that direction to the river, and it is swampy on both sides of it," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "consisting of four Riverlawn negroes, were drawn up in front. The twenty Lyndhall hands, miscellaneously armed with clubs and such implements as they had been able to obtain, had also been formed across the road; and they were as eager to" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Here you are, Captain Lyon, and my mission has been a success, said Tom, as he rode up to the" }, { "from": "human", "value": "posted in the rear, where that arm is not usually placed." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You are to command the flanking party, and Squire Truman is requested to join the commander at the front." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Well, Major Lyon, you seem to have brought everything to a standstill on this portion of the field, said Colonel Belthorpe as he rode up to the planter from Riverlawn after he had taken a full view of the situation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I see that you have made a flank movement, and placed a portion of your force in the rear of the enemy." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My son is in command of that detachment, and the movement was made at his suggestion, replied the major, who could not help laughing in sympathy with the colonel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The movement was made at his suggestion, and I think there is a great deal more military in Dexter's composition than in mine." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Captain Deck has skill as well as pluck, and he has put the enemy in a tight place, added the commander-in-chief." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There they are like a flock of sheep in a pen, and they cannot get out. What are you going to do next, Major Lyon?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That is for you to say, for you command all the forces," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You have brought this sore to a head, my friend, and probably you can suggest in what manner the wound may be healed, returned the colonel, still laughing; for to a military man like him the whole affair appeared to be rather in the nature of a farce." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have proved to be an able commander, and I need your advice." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You seem to look very lightly upon the whole matter, Colonel Belthorpe," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not at all, my dear sir; I have looked upon it, up to the present stage of affairs, as a very serious matter; and I am confident that both your mansion and mine would have been in ashes before this time if we had not taken the bull by the horns as we did." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You appear to be amused." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am amused at the present situation; and perhaps the victory we have achieved puts me in condition to be amused. My property and my daughters have been saved, and we have the ruffians pinched up in a tight place. I think you have as much reason to rejoice as I have, Major Lyon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Certainly I have; but, not being a military man, it looks more serious to me than to you. I thought you were inclined to make fun of the whole affair." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not at all. For a civilian you have done wonders. As we have won we can afford to laugh. But it is about daylight now, and this operation must be finished. What is your counsel, Major?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think we had better get a little nearer to the enemy, replied the major." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I see a good many of your people in the field on our left." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "From mild, peaceable, and even timid people, they suddenly became as brave as lions, and as ferocious as fiends, and they have severely punished the ruffians who fled in this direction. I never supposed there was anything like fight in them before." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If you are ready we will advance, Colonel," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Captain Titus seems to have a passion for white flags, said the colonel." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He tried that dodge for the second time over on the new road." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And for the third time on this road, added the major." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But there appears to be some reason for showing it this time." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I shall leave you to do all the talking, Colonel Belthorpe," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am quite willing to do the talking, but I may need your advice," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Do you know that man with the flag, Squire Truman?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I ought to know him, for I prosecuted him for an assault not long ago, replied the lawyer." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That is Swin Pickford, a bully and a ruffian of the vilest sort." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My brother is not very particular in the selection of his associates," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I desire to meet Noah Lyon," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I decline to meet him," }, { "from": "human", "value": "He declines to meet you on the present occasion, replied the commander sternly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This is not exactly a fraternal meeting, and there is only one question which is in order: Do you surrender?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Surrender? No! not as long as there is a breath left in my body!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What do you want, then?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I want justice!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you got it you would be swinging to one of these trees; and that is where you would be if you were not the brother of Major Lyon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Major Lyon, as you call him, is a thief and a robber! yelled Titus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The very guns and cannon you have turned against us to-night were stolen from me by him!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "At a meeting of the Union men of this vicinity last night, a vote of thanks was passed to Major Lyon for taking possession of the arms and ammunition found in a cavern; and we all stand by that vote," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What do we care for the vote of a set of traitors to the State!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "This is not the time or the place to discuss the subject. I desire only to know what you and your mob are going to do about it." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We are going to have justice if there is any such thing left in the State." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is your next move, Captain Titus." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I wish to be fair and reasonable, continued Titus, moderating his speech and manner." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I have done my best to keep the gentlemen with me from doing violence to them that stole our property, and" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And for that reason you became their leader and captain-general in an attempt to burn your brother's house and mine!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "No matter what we came out for; I have a plan to state that will settle the difficulty," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "State your plan, and be quick about it!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "If the stolen arms and things are returned to us at once, we will go to our several homes and let the matter end here," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's enough! exclaimed Colonel Belthorpe indignantly." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Have you come over here under a flag of truce to say that?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That is what I come here for; and I insist on't that the things be given up!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Now you can retire with your flag of truce." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I won't do no such thing!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "If you won't I shall be obliged to open fire upon you and your mob; and you will be the first to fall," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Do you mean to murder us? demanded Titus, aghast at the determined policy of the commander." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have hemmed us in so that we can't get out, and now you mean to fire on us! I cal'late you've got a bone to pick with your feller-citizens for armin' niggers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I can pick it without any help from you. Now, do you surrender, or shall I order my men to fire? demanded the colonel so sternly that Titus was silenced." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I give you five minutes to consider my offer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't want to be shot like a mule with a broken leg," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can't we make terms?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No terms with a mob," }, { "from": "human", "value": "We surrender!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I s'pose we can't do nothin' but surrender or be shot," }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's all; and you may thank your stars that some of you are not swinging by the neck from the trees at the side of the road." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then we surrender, for we can't do nothin' else, said Captain Titus." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But I want to tell you, Colonel Belthorpe and Noah Lyon, that you haven't seen the end of this thing yet. If the whole country don't howl ag'in you within twenty-four hours, I lose my guess." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You had better fall back on your ruffians and guess again," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What does the surrender amount to, Colonel?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It really amounts to nothing but a way to get rid of these fellows. We have had enough of them for to-night, replied the commander." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Captain Gadbury, will you ride around through the fields to Captain Deck, and ask him to let the mob move down the road toward the bridge? If any of them have guns, take them from them." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Captain Titus and the mob have really been thoroughly whipped out of their boots, said the overseer, when Deck had finished his narrative." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But, as the leader of the ruffians said, we haven't seen the end of this thing yet." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do you think they will make another attack upon Riverlawn, Levi?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't reckon they will try it in the same way they did before; at least not till they are fully provided with arms and ammunition, replied Levi." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That attempt to capture the two daughters of Colonel Belthorpe looks like one of Buck Lagger's schemes. If he had obtained possession of the two girls, very likely he would have confined them in one of the caverns like the one where they put the arms, with a guard over them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That would have been awful," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I reckon they didn't mean to hurt the girls, and wouldn't if they had got possession of them, continued Levi." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But you can see for yourselves, boys, that they would have had the key to the fortress in their own hands if they had obtained the girls." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's so!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't see what good the girls could have done them," }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is as plain as the nose on a monkey's face, added Deck." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "With the two girls as prisoners, Captain Titus would have demanded the return of the arms and ammunition of Colonel Belthorpe." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I see! exclaimed Artie, as the object of the capture dawned upon him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But the colonel did not have the arms, and he could not have given them up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But father would have made common cause with him, and he could not well have helped giving up the arms to get back his neighbor's daughter," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I wonder they didn't try to take our girls," }, { "from": "human", "value": "That is what they may try to do next; and I shall advise your mother not to permit Miss Dorcas or Miss Hope to go outside of the plantation unless they are well guarded, added Levi." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If Captain Titus could get away with your two sisters, and hide them, he could have things all his own way with your father." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We must keep a sharp lookout for the girls," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Buck Lagger, with his gang, must have gone ahead of the main body of the ruffians, continued the overseer thoughtfully," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Where does this Buck live?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He has a shanty on the road to the village, just above the schoolhouse. He is a pedler when he does anything like work, and I suppose he knows about every family in the county, replied Levi." }, { "from": "human", "value": "He could easily have found out all about the party, and who were to be there." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is the breakfast-bell," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "It won't go off again till you load it, said the overseer, as he rushed up to him, and wrenched the musket from his hand, thinking he might try to use it as a club." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It's no fault of yours, except in your aim, that you are not a murderer, Buck Lagger!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "IT WON'T GO OFF AGAIN UNTIL YOU LOAD IT." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I'm only sorry I missed my aim, replied Buck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have a revolver in your hand, and you can shoot me as soon as you please." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Shooting is too good for a ruffian like you. If I had a rope I would hang you to one of the beams of your own shanty," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Oh, I'll lend you a rope if you will come to the house, replied the obliging ruffian." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But hold your hand! You hurt me! You can see for yourself that I am wounded. One of Lyon's cubs put a ball through my shoulder last night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It's a pity he did not put it through your brains, if you've got anything of that sort in the top of your head," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You hurt me, Bedford! pleaded Buck." }, { "from": "human", "value": "If you want to hang me, I'll help you do the job in proper fashion; but you needn't torture me before you do it. When we lynch a fellow we don't do that." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "My aim is better than yours; walk to my wagon, and if you attempt to run away, I won't kill you, but I will put two or three balls through your legs, so that it won't be convenient for you to run," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What are you go'n' to do with me, Bedford?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's my business," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, I think it rayther consarns me too." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you live long enough you will find out in time. Now get into the wagon." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Are you go'n' to take me down to Lyon's place?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Get in quick, or I may hurt you again! said Levi impatiently." }, { "from": "human", "value": "You won't get killed by a ball from my shooter, but you may have another wound." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "That wasn't a bad scheme of yours to get possession of Colonel Belthorpe's girls, Buck. You meant to trade them off for the arms, I suppose," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That was just it, Bedford; and if that cub of Lyon's hadn't interfered, we should have had the arms before this time," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Why didn't you try it on Major Lyon's girls first, for that would have brought the matter nearer home?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That's just what we meant to do, replied Buck, with refreshing confidence in his custodian." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That was my plan; but Cap'n Titus was obstinate, and wouldn't hear to me. He ain't much of a cap'n; and I'd had the arms and the rest o' the things if he had left it to me." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What was your plan, Buck?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's tellin'; we may try it on some other time, if I live long enough. Our folks are fightin' this thing on principle, and we ain't go'n' to see the good old State of Kaintuck turned over to the Abolitionists." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What do you mean by Abolitionists, Buck?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Such fellers as Lyon, Cosgrove, Belthorpe." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They are all slaveholders." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They're all Lincolnites, and gave arms to their niggers to shoot down white Kaintuckians last night," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Only when a mob of ruffians came down upon them to burn their property and carry off their daughters! added Levi." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are Union men, and they will stand by the old flag as long as there is anything left of them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Union's busted!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not much! Why don't you enlist in the Confederate army, and carry out your principles? You are a cowardly ruffian, Buck!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We can do more good to the cause by stoppin' here, Bedford; and when I git command of that Home Guard, as I shall afore long, I'll clean out the Abolitionists in less'n a week," }, { "from": "human", "value": "If you live long enough," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I don't I'm willin' to be a martyr to the good cause!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Can't you hear me, you black rascals? demanded the surgeon in a loud tone." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Come here, one of you!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Can't leabe de post, Mars'r Doctor," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Good-morning, Doctor Falkirk, said he." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I did not know you were here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I knew I was here, and I ordered those black scoundrels to assist me, and they refused to do so," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They only obey their orders, but they rather overdo it. I will assist you, Doctor," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Orders! exclaimed the professional gentleman contemptuously." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "One would think this was a regular garrison." }, { "from": "human", "value": "That is about what it is," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Humbug!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Keep the man quiet for a week, and give him anything he wants to eat," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We have three more wounded men in the hospital who need a surgeon," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What are those niggers doing over on the other side of the creek?" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "They are burying a man that fell in the skirmish last night," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What skirmish?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "You don't appear to have heard the news, Doctor," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What news? I was called to General Longman's plantation last evening; I spent the night there, and did not get home till half-past eight this morning." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "An Abolition row!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not exactly, Dr. Falkirk; it was a Secession row!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Brought about by the insane wrangling of the traitors to the State of Kentucky!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The traitors to the State of Kentucky are loyal to the government of the United States and the Union," }, { "from": "human", "value": "There is no longer any United States, and the Union has ceased to exist! The men who are making all this trouble in Kentucky are those who are trying to make war upon the Southern Confederacy, to subdue and enslave a dozen sovereign States!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I reckon it's no use for you and me to argue this question, for we don't live in the same world on that subject, said the overseer, with a smile on his round face." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But Kentucky is for the Union by a large majority, and what you call sovereign States are in rebellion against the lawful authorities of the nation, and the insurrection will be put down just as sure as fate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "This used to be a free country, though it isn't so now; but every man can have his own opinion as long as he is willing to be responsible for it." }, { "from": "human", "value": "It isn't exactly a free country as long as the loyal citizens of this county cannot hold a meeting without being attacked by the ruffians of Secession, as was the case at Big Bend last night. Then the same villains came over here in a mob of a hundred to burn Major Lyon's house, and capture his daughters, as they tried to do with Colonel Belthorpe's girls. They did not succeed, and some of them were shot down in the attempt. The right to commit such outrages as these is what you call free; but we at Riverlawn don't understand it in just that way." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But, according to your own statement, Mr. Bedford, your people had stolen the arms intended for the company of the Home Guards whom Captain Titus Lyon has enlisted," }, { "from": "human", "value": "We took possession of the arms and ammunition, including the two guns at those embrasures, to prevent these ruffians from using them against the loyal citizens of the county in carrying out their ideas of freedom, said Levi stoutly." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Do you believe these ruffians, the offscourings of the county, ought to be permitted to burn, ravage, and destroy the homes of some of the most respectable people in this vicinity, Dr. Falkirk?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "But your people were the aggressors, and I think they were justified in trying to recover the property that had been stolen from them." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The ruffians issued their threats to burn the mansion of Major Lyon before the arms entered into the question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I come for the doctor, sar," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Who is sick at Lyndhall, Sam?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Nobody sick, Mars'r Bedford; but Mars'r Tilford's very bad with his wound, and Mars'r Cunnel send me for the doctor," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Is this another of your victims, Mr. Bedford?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It is Colonel Belthorpe's overseer. He refused to assist in protecting the family from the ruffians, and left the mansion. It seems that he was shot in attempting to join your army, doctor." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "He's a brave fellow! I will go and see him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But he deserted your army of ruffians, and crawled back to the house, where the girls nursed him and cared for him. Now the colonel sends for you to patch him up, the ingrate!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "True to his principles against his employer!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What is to be the end of all these disturbances, Noah?" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I think we all understand what is before us. We are to have war, and I don't believe it will end in a hundred days, as the statesman at Washington says, replied Major Lyon; and even some of his family had learned to apply this title to him." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Within a few days we shall begin to form a company of cavalry. I am still of military age, and the boys are old enough to take part in the struggle before us. But Levi will remain on the plantation; and as the hands have proved that they can stand up under fire, he will have the means of protecting you, Ruth." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course we shall be sorry to have you go, but I agree with you, Noah, that your country has a claim upon you which you cannot shirk," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Buck Lagger asked me this morning if I thought he was well enough to be hung," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do you think of hanging him, Levi?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That is what I promised him; but I leave that matter to you, Major Lyon. He is a murderer at heart, and the bullet from his gun passed within two inches of the top of my head." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I should not like to have him hung at Riverlawn, added the planter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I will talk with him, and see what can be done; but there is no law in this part of the country just now." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I have come to see you once more, Noah," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I hope we shall be peaceable and pleasant this time, even if we cannot agree in everything," }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's just what I want, Noah; and I have always tried to make things peaceable between us," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I trust you will continue to do so," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "There is a question between us, Noah, continued Titus, struggling to retain his quiet demeanor as he approached the point of difference between them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I won't say a word about the way I have been used up to three days ago, for I want to be on kind of brotherly terms with you, if we don't agree on politics." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I assuredly desire to be on brotherly terms with you, and it shall not be any fault of mine that we are not brothers in spirit as well as in fact," }, { "from": "human", "value": "There is only one question between us now, and we might just as well come right down to business at once, said Titus, very nervous in his manner, as though his hope of accomplishing anything with the stern patriot his brother had proved to be was only slight." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Of course you know that I mean about the arms." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I understand you, Brother Titus," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It seems to me that there ought to be no trouble between two brothers like you and me about settling a question of this kind, continued Titus, still toying with the subject." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Of course you must admit that the arms did not belong to you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "No more than Fort Sumter and a dozen other places built and maintained by the Union belonged to the insurgents who have taken possession of them," }, { "from": "human", "value": "That's another matter," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "It is precisely the same thing to my mind." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do you call stealing my property the same thing as a nation taking possession of forts and such things within its own territory, Noah Lyon?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Precisely the same thing, though on a smaller scale." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I used to think you had lots of logic in your head, Noah; but I believe you hain't got none on't left, retorted Titus, relapsing into what he called his" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I was in hopes you had come to sunthin' like reason, and would be ready to give up the property you stole." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shall be quite ready to give it up when the insurrectionists give up the property they stole." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The two things ain't no more like than a nigger is like a white man," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think we had better not discuss this question any more, Brother Titus. It only stirs up bad blood, and does not accomplish anything," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I s'pose I'm to understand from what you say that you don't mean to give up the arms you stole from me," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I do not consider that I have any right to deliver the arms to you; for I understand that they were to be used to arm what you call the Home Guards, or, in other words, the ruffians who came over here to burn my house and lay waste my property. I shall not give up the arms to you, or to any other person representing the enemies of the Union. The insurrectionists have set the example of stealing arms, as you call it, and forts, and public buildings by wholesale; and the Secessionists of Kentucky are robbing the Union men of their arms. I hold that the precedent has been well established by those on your side of the question." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I don't care for your precedents, and I wish my brother would deal with the one question between us." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am entirely willing to do so, Brother Titus. You wish me to furnish the brands with which you can burn my house and those of my neighbors." }, { "from": "human", "value": "What sort of bosh is that?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I should return to you the military supplies in my possession, they would be used to arm the horde of ruffians you marched over here to burn my property the other night." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They would be used to arm my company of the Home Guards; and they are regular under the call of the Governor of Kentucky." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The Legislature of the State repudiate him, and the people are enlisting the troops he refused to furnish." }, { "from": "human", "value": "The Legislature is a fraud, and don't rightly represent the will of the people. I came over here with the Home Guard and other friends of the cause to get the arms. You turned our own weapons against us, and without arms we could do nothing against armed niggers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have put my place in a condition to be defended, and I have called upon the United States government to send a body of troops here to protect the Union people from the outrages of your people." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They will have a hot time of it when they get here," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "In the meantime we shall defend ourselves. We have been attacked" }, { "from": "human", "value": "You have not been attacked! protested the captain." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We came over here to demand the arms. We put up a flag of truce, and wanted to talk with you; but you drove us off, and fired upon us," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Your people began the attack at the schoolhouse." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They had no business there, for the call was addressed to the Union men of the county. They disturbed the meeting, and we put them out. Then your company gathered in the woods, demanding 'Lyon and his cubs.' My friends stood by me, and the meeting shouldered all the responsibility in regard to the arms. We agreed to get up a company of cavalry for the United States." }, { "from": "human", "value": "And you mean to arm 'em with the things you stole from me!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "When a proper officer comes here he will give you a receipt for the property." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Which would not be worth the paper it is written on to me!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not unless you could show that you were a Union man." }, { "from": "human", "value": "My men are bent on gettin' them arms, and they will have them!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They will have to fight for them," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Major Lyon, this is Lieutenant Gordon, of the United States Volunteer Service," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am very glad to see you, Lieutenant Gordon," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am rejoiced to meet you, Major Lyon; and I am glad to find that you are a military man," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But I am not a military man, and was never even a private in a military company, replied the major, laughing at the natural mistake of his guest." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I protested against answering to my title till I found it was useless to do so." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you are not a major now, perhaps you will be one very soon. I am sent here by Major-General Buell, in reply to your letter to him," }, { "from": "human", "value": "You are the very man I wished most to see, said the planter, after he had glanced at the paper." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Come to the house, if you please, and we will consider the object of your visit." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I had some trouble in getting here; for our information is that General Buckner, with a considerable force of the enemy, is moving towards Bowling Green, probably with the intention of occupying it, and I did not deem it wise to go there, as I had been directed to do." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What you say is news to us, replied the major, as he conducted the officer into the house." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Have you been to breakfast, Lieutenant?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have not, sir. I left the train last night at Dripping Spring, which they told me was the last station before coming to Bowling Green. I found a place to sleep, and a stable for my horse, which I brought down in a baggage car, I started out early this morning to find Riverlawn, and here I am." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "You are on the very ragged edge of the Rebellion, Major Lyon, said the visitor, as he seated himself at the table." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I should say you were not more than fifteen miles from Bowling Green." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I suppose you are acquainted with the country about here, Lieutenant?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Not at all, Major; I was born and always lived in the State of Ohio; and I have never been in this direction farther than Lexington. But I know that Bowling Green is near the junction of two railroads into Tennessee and the South; and the Confederates can't help seeing that it is an important point for them to possess and hold. There will be some fighting in this quarter before long." }, { "from": "human", "value": "There has been a skirmish or two. The Home Guards are making some trouble in this vicinity, and I have put my place in a condition to be defended from their assaults," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "These are my sons, Lieutenant, said Major Lyon, introducing each of them by name." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They are stout boys, very nearly eighteen years old, and are good riders. They will be the first recruits to put their names on your paper after mine when you enter upon the work of your mission." }, { "from": "human", "value": "They are the kind of recruits I like to add to our forces, for they are not only stout, but intelligent, replied the officer, as he took from his breast pocket the printed form of document for the enlistment of soldiers." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Where did you get the name of this fort, Major Lyon?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "From my overseer, the first man you met on my premises. He was formerly connected with an artillery company in Tennessee; but he is a Union man to the core," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Then he will be our fourth recruit?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "No, sir; he is about fifty years old, and he is to take charge of my plantation in my absence. But I think there are over a hundred men in this vicinity who are ready to put their names down on your paper. The horses are all ready for them, for they were pledged in the Union meeting of which I told you." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We shall not need the horses at first," }, { "from": "human", "value": "Not need the horses, sir! exclaimed Deck, who was listening with all his ears to the conversation." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "How are we going to get up a company of cavalry without horses?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The company will be first drilled like infantry, and the exercises with horses come in later," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Both of them will make good soldiers, sir, for they have been under fire in a small way," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I should say that you have little need of soldiers for the protection of your place, Major Lyon, added the officer, as he looked at the cannon and the breech-loaders arranged around the interior of the fort." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Are these the arms you captured in the cavern?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The same, sir; and they have already enabled us to defend ourselves from the mob that came over here to burn my house." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "These muskets must have cost a round sum of money, for they are of the best quality, and have the latest improvements. Unfortunately they are not adapted to the use of cavalry, and we shall need carbines." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Well, it is something to keep them out of the hands of the enemy, replied Major Lyon." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I suppose we are ready to make a beginning in the business before us, Lieutenant Gordon. What is the first thing to be done?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "The first thing is to enlist the men, replied the officer, as he took from his pocket a handbill, printed for use in some other locality." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We must post bills like this one all about this vicinity." }, { "from": "human", "value": "We can't get them printed short of Bowling Green, said Major Lyon, after he had read the placard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "And the Home Guards will pull them down as fast as we can put them up." }, { "from": "human", "value": "But some of them will be seen, and the news that a recruiting office has been established here will soon circulate. You are between two fires here, and your foes will talk about it even more than your friends. We must have the handbills at any rate." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Very well. Artie, this will be a mission for you." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am ready and willing to do anything I can," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I suppose the village of which you speak would be the best place to establish the recruiting office," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I am afraid not, replied the planter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I fear the ruffians who abound in that vicinity would mob you. Why not establish the office here, where we shall be able to protect you?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "It seems to be too far from any centre of population," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "All the better for that; for in the village they would not only mob you, but the ruffians would intimidate those who were willing to enlist. People in this vicinity don't mind going two or three miles when business calls them," }, { "from": "human", "value": "I shall adopt your suggestion, Major Lyon, returned the recruiting officer, as he proceeded to alter the handbill to suit the locality." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I suppose everybody in this neighborhood will know where to find Riverlawn." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Everybody in the county," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I think I had better take one of those revolvers in my pocket, suggested Artie." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If I get into any trouble it may be of use to me." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Do you expect to get into any trouble, my boy?" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't expect any trouble, but something may happen." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Perhaps I had better send half a dozen of the boys with you," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "The boys?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I mean the negroes who defended the place the other night, added the planter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They have learned to handle the breech-loaders, and they would fight for my boys as long as there was anything left of them." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I dare say they would, replied the officer with a significant smile." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "But if you send six negroes armed with breech-loaders to Bowling Green, you may be sure there will be a row." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Just my sentiments, added Levi Bedford." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I don't think Artie will have any trouble if he goes alone." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Very well, let him go alone; but I am confident half a dozen of the boys would make it hot for any band that attempted to molest him," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Have you an American flag, Major Lyon?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "Two of them, for my brother always celebrated the Fourth of July." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We always hoist one on a recruiting office." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "If you had set that flag over your office in the village, it would have been hauled down and trampled under foot inside of an hour," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Are the people of this vicinity so disloyal as that? asked Lieutenant Gordon, astonished at the remark." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I supposed the Unionists were in the majority here." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "So they are; but they are not half so demonstrative as the other side." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "What's this? 'Union Cavalry!'" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What will you charge for printing two hundred copies of that bill, and doing it while I wait?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "added the man, as he continued to read the placard." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Who are you, boy?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "My name is Artemas Lyon, and my father lives at Riverlawn," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Well, Artemas Lyon, I would not print that bill if your father would give me a hundred dollars a letter for doing it!" }, { "from": "human", "value": "All right, sir; if you don't want to do the job you needn't!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "Stop a minute, boy! So you are recruiting at Riverlawn for the Abolition army? called the printer, who was perhaps a member of the Home Guards." }, { "from": "human", "value": "I want to know something about that business." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "If you want to enlist in the Union army, you can do so at Riverlawn. I am in a hurry, and I can't stop to answer any questions," }, { "from": "human", "value": "What are you doing here, Artie Lyon?" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "You ought to have come to me at once, Artie, said the colonel, as the messenger showed him the handbill." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "That printer runs a Secession paper, and he would lose all his subscribers if it was known that he printed a placard like this. Come with me, and I will get the work done for you." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "I signed the letter to General Buell with your father, asking him to send a recruiting officer to this locality, said the colonel, as he conducted his guest to the library." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I am very glad he has come. I should have been in favor of establishing his office in this place if it were not a current report that the town is to be occupied by the Confederates within a short time." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Father thought Riverlawn would be a better place than Barcreek village for it," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I think he is right." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Stop, boy!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "What do you want of me?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "I want them handbills you just got printed, replied the spokesman." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "We ain't go'n' to have no Abolition troops enlisted round here. And that ain't all nuther; we're gwine to clean out that Major Lyon that sent you over here." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Hand over the papers and we won't hurt you," }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I shall not give them up! replied Artie as decidedly as though he had the new company of cavalry behind him." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Get out of the road, or I will ride over you!" }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "You won't give em' up, won't yer?" }, { "from": "human", "value": "No!" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "of the shot which Artie had fired at the three ruffians who beset him on the road. There was no doubt in the minds of the active men at Riverlawn that the recruiting office would be known to the fullest extent even the day after the bills were posted; for even the women would gossip about it as they went from house to house, and the loafers in the" } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "We don't want a lot of spies and enemies in our midst, for they will report everything that is done to their friends who have been permitted to visit them," } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "You were right in calling these fellows the ruffians, Major Lyon, said the recruiting officer." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "I have no doubt there are many respectable Secessionists in this part of the State, but I am confident they do not associate with such fellows as you have had to deal with." }, { "from": "human", "value": "Such men are simply in favor of neutrality, which I look upon as a fraud and a humbug, replied the planter." }, { "from": "gpt", "value": "They are gentlemen in the truest sense of the word, and I am only sorry they are on the wrong side of the question." } ]

[ { "from": "human", "value": "Fire! fire!" } ]