"Now I do think, in my soul," exclaimed Allison, "things have come to a pretty pass when Crackers like those Websters can throw a settlement like this into a panic, and order prominent and wealthy planters like Captain Beardsley to quit business and come home on penalty of being burned out in case of disobedience." "You're mighty right," said Mrs. Brown, who was pleased to hear the captain called a prominent and wealthy planter. "Sich trash aint no call to live on this broad 'arth. They're wuss than the niggers, an' a heap lower down." "But have you any evidence against the Websters?" inquired Mark. "I've got a plenty. In the fust place they don't say nothing; an' folks as don't say nothing these times ain't fitten to live. Now is the day when every man oughter come out an' show their colors," said the woman, quoting from Beardsley. "That means Marcy Gray," said Tom. "I wish I could see a gang of armed men take him out of the house and carry him off." "He mustn't be teched," said the woman very decidedly. "Who mustn't--Marcy?" exclaimed Tom and Mark in a breath. "Who said so? What's the reason he mustn't be touched? He's a traitor." "I don't know whether he is or not; but he mustn't be pestered. Leastwise by folks living around here in the settlement." Tom looked at Mark, and Mark looked about for a chair and sat down. Then they both looked at the old woman. This was something mysterious, and they wanted to have it explained. "I aint got no more to say on that there p'int," said Mrs. Brown, her tone and manner showing that the question did not admit of argument. "He'll be teched fast enough when the time comes, Marcy Gray will, an' don't you furget to remember what I'm tellin' you. But them as goes for Marcy will be folks that can't be pestered by the men who toted Hanson off to the swamp." "Ah! Now I see daylight," said Tom, with something that sounded like a sigh of relief. "I thought you meant that Marcy was to be left alone altogether for the reason that he was believed to be a good Confederate. And when these friends of ours, whoever they may be, go for him, I suppose they'll not neglect to look for the money that Mrs. Gray is known to have in her house?" "I aint heared that anybody knows for sartin that the money is there," said Mrs. Brown. "Leastwise, they don't know it _yit._ There won't be nothing much done till that there is settled fur a fact."