Once behind the shelter of the trees, the boy did not diminish his speed, but crashing along through the small brush, soon gained his horse’s side. The tether was untied, he flung himself on the mare’s back, and off they went in a circuitous route for the turnpike. Ere the men who had followed cleared the wood again he was out of sight and hearing. What he had seen and heard filled his mind with strange thoughts. “They are a newly formed rebel company,” he said to himself. “A rebel company sworn in, no doubt, to fight our government the minute the leaders in the South give the order. I wonder how many more such companies there are down here? No doubt hundreds--and perhaps thousands!” Feeling that he would have an interesting story to tell when he arrived home, Louis urged forward his horse as rapidly as the muddy road would permit. He soon reached the hamlet of Deems, but the rain had driven every one indoors and he passed on unquestioned. Half a mile outside of the hamlet Jess began to limp, and he alighted to find out the cause of the trouble. A shoe was loose and in such a condition that it must be tightened before the journey could be continued. Under such conditions there was nothing to do but to turn back to Deems and call in the aid of the local blacksmith. The smithy was soon found, a low, smoke-begrimed place at the lower end of the hamlet. The door was swung open and Louis rode in, to find himself in the presence of the blacksmith and half a dozen boon companions, all of whom had been discussing the war question with all the warmth of their Southern natures. “I would like to have that shoe fastened,” said Louis, as the blacksmith strode forward to greet him. “Yes, sir,” was the reply, and the man set to work without delay. Having nothing to do, the youth strode up to one side of the fire at the forge and tried to dry his clothing. While he stood there the others in the smithy eyed him curiously and the talk lagged and was turned into other channels. Louis had seen one of the men at Lee Run some days before, and this man now whispered something to the others and all eyed the youth sharply. It was evident that they knew he was a Northerner and would treat him accordingly. No effort, however, was made to molest him, but he was made to feel that he was no longer a friend but an enemy. Such was the spirit in the South just before the war, a spirit which speedily found its counterpart in the North. In a quarter of an hour the shoe was readjusted and Louis handed over the twenty cents asked in payment. He was glad to think he had not been detained longer, and lost no further time in getting on his way. But the halt, brief as it was, was sufficient to bring him into serious trouble, as we shall soon learn.