"Good morning," said Dick, riding straight on, without checking his
speed. But one of the men drew his horse across the road and said:
"What's your hurry? It ain't friendly to ride by without passin' the
time o' day."
Now at close range, Dick liked their looks less than ever. They might
be members of that very band of Skelly's which had already made so much
trouble for both sides, and he summoned all his faculties in order to
meet them at any game that they might try to play.
"I've been on land business in the mountains," he said, "and I'm anxious
to get back to my home. Besides the day is very cold, and the two facts
deprive me of the pleasure of a long conversation with you, gentlemen.
Good-day."
"Wait just a little," said the spokesman, who still kept his horse
reined across the road. "These be war times an' it's important to know
what a fellow is. Be you for the Union or are you with the Secesh?"
Dick was quite sure that whatever he answered they would immediately
claim to be on the opposite side. Then would follow robbery and perhaps
murder.
"Which is your side?" he asked.
"But we put the question first," the fellow replied.
Dick no longer had any doubts. The second man was drawing his horse up
by the side of him, as if to seize him, while the first continued to
bar the way. He was alarmed, deeply alarmed, but he lost neither his
courage nor his presence of mind. Luckily he had already summoned every
faculty for instant action, and now he acted.
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