"He means you're to send troops?" Tuck inquired. "What else should the poor man mean?" "Are you sure it's constitutional?" "Hang constitutional! What do I know about their legal quibbles at Washington?" "But, Paisley--" "They're unsurrendered rebels, I tell you. Never signed a parole." "But the general amnesty--" "Bother general amnesty! Ballard represents the Federal government in this Territory, and Uncle Sam's army is here to protect the Federal government. If Ballard calls on the army it's our business to obey, and if there's any mistake in judgment it's Ballard's, not mine." Which was sound soldier common-sense, and happened to be equally good law. This is not always the case. "You haven't got any force to send," said Tuck. This was true. General Crook had taken with him both Captain Sinclair's infantry and the troop (or company, as cavalry was also then called) of the First. "A detail of five or six with a reliable non-commissioned officer will do to remind them it's the United States they're bucking against," said Paisley. "There's a deal in the moral of these things. Crook--" Paisley broke off and ran to the door. "Hold his horse!" he called out to the orderly; for he had heard the hoofs, and was out of the house before Corporal Jones had fairly arrived. So Jones sprang off and hurried up, saluting. He delivered his message. "Um--umpra--what's that? Is it _imperative_ you mean?" suggested Paisley. "Yes, sir," said Jones, reforming his pronunciation of that unaccustomed word. "He said it twiced." "What were they doing?" "Blamed if I--beg the captain's pardon--they looked like they was waitin' fer me to git out." "Go on--go on. How many were there?" "Seven, sir. There was Governor Ballard and Mr. Hewley and--well, them's all the names I know. But," Jones hastened on with eagerness, "I've saw them five other fellows before at a--at--" The corporal's voice failed, and he stood looking at the captain. "Well? Where?" "At a cock-fight, sir," murmured Jones, casting his eyes down. A slight sound came from the room where Tuck was seated, listening, and Paisley's round gray eyes rolled once, then steadied themselves fiercely upon Jones. "Did you notice anything further unusual, corporal?" "No, sir, except they was excited in there. Looked like they might be goin' to hev considerable rough house--a fuss, I mean, sir. Two was in their socks. I counted four guns on a table." "Take five men and go at once to the State-House. If the Governor needs assistance you will give it, but do nothing hasty. Stop trouble, and make none. You've got twenty minutes." "Captain--if anybody needs arrestin'--" "You must be judge of that." Paisley went into the house. There was no time for particulars. "Snakes!" remarked Jones. He jumped on his horse and dashed down the slope to the men's quarters.