"From Fleming County," said Watson carelessly, quite as if he knew every other county in the State. "I fear, sir, we must be moving on towards Chattanooga. We are in a hurry to enlist, and we have already been delayed too long." The Major completely ignored the latter part of this sentence. "From Fleming County," he said. "Well, that's pleasant news. I know Fleming County like a book. There is where my father lived and died. What part of the county do you come from?" Had the Major asked them to tell the area of the United States in square inches he could not have propounded a more puzzling question. "Dunder and blitzen;" thought Watson. "If I only knew more of Kentucky geography I might get myself out of this scrape." "We come from the southeastern part of the county," said Macgreggor, after an awkward pause. "Near what town?" Another pause. Oh, for the name of a town in the southeastern part of Fleming County, Kentucky. The Major was looking at the visitors curiously. Why this sudden reticence on their part? At last Watson spoke up, although evasively. "We were a long distance from any town; we worked on adjoining farms, and when the call to arms came we determined to rush to the rescue of our beloved Southland." The Major gave Watson one searching look. "Humph!" said he, "that's all very pretty, and I'm glad you are so patriotic--but that won't do. What is the nearest town to the places you live in?" The name of Carlisle flashed through Watson's mind. He recalled that it was somewhere in the part of Kentucky in which Fleming County was situated. A man he knew had once lived there. He would risk it. "The nearest town is Carlisle," he said shortly. "And now, Major, we really must be off! Good-bye!" He started for the door, followed by George and Macgreggor, who were both devoutly wishing that such a state as Kentucky had never existed. "Wait a second," suddenly commanded the Southerner, stepping in front of the door to bar the way. "You seem to be strangely ignorant of your own county. Carlisle happens to be in the adjoining county." "Here, sir, we're not here to be examined by you, as if we were in the witness box," cried Watson, who hoped to carry the situation through with a strong hand. He would try a little bluster. A sarcastic smile crossed the firm face of Major Lightfoot. "Don't try to bluff me," he said quietly but sternly; "for it won't work. I see very clearly that you fellows have never been in Fleming County, nor do I think you have ever been in Kentucky at all, for the matter of that. You certainly talk more like Yankees than Kentuckians." "Then you don't believe us?" asked Macgreggor, trying to assume an air of injured innocence.