"And right there on our own Southern coast I want these ships built and equipped and the guns cast and the men found to man them. I want the South to have her part in the nation's defense. I want her to have this great naval city as the living proof that there is again just one country--the United States--and the North and the South both have forgiven." Senator Peabody clapped the new member on the back. "Good!" he exclaimed. "You've got to make some speeches like that. We'll have you as the orator for the naval base." Langdon's eyes opened wide. "Orator!" he gasped. "Me! An orator!" "Why, that was oratory, good oratory," exclaimed Stevens, with enthusiasm. "Huh!" grunted the planter. "You call that oratory. Why, that was only the truth." "We'll see that you do some more of it, then," laughed Peabody. "Remember, we count on you for the naval base." "For rural simplicity he's perfection," whispered Peabody to Stevens as they left the planter. "He's a living picture of innocence. We'll push him forward and let him do the talking for the naval affairs committee. Hiding behind him, we could put through almost any kind of a proposition." Once more did the senior Senator from Mississippi acquiesce. CHAPTER VI NEW FRIENDS--AND AN OLD ENEMY Langdon gazed at the two departing Senators with varied emotions. He sat down to think over what they had said and to carefully consider what manner of man was Peabody, who showed such an interest in him. He realized that he would have considerable intercourse with Peabody in the processes of legislation, and finally had to admit to himself that he did not like the Senator from Pennsylvania. Just what it was Langdon could not at this time make certain, but he was mystified by traces of contradictions in the Senator's character--slight traces, true, but traces nevertheless. Peabody's cordiality and sympathy were to Langdon's mind partly genuine and partly false. Just what was the cause of or the necessity for the alloy in the true metal he could not fathom.