In the Saddle

wned his place, which had cost five thousand dollars, unencumbered; and about two years before h

n, such as people who collect money, or don't want to pay it out, often tell,"

sked Sandy Lyon, the expression on who

n that what you

ooking at his cousin as though he was in doubt whethe

you said that your mother had not a dollar in the house," replied Deck, study

but they had not met for three months. Politics, as the people of this locality generally called the two great questions of the day, Unionism and Secession, had created

not a dollar in the house," s

t contradict him; so it is al

it was just as true as Breckinridge

a smile on his handsome face; for he had the reputation of being

s in the sky," added Orly; and there wa

lenty of money," sugge

sn't," pro

fast, Orly," interpos

will scratch her way out very soon," replied Orly. "Mother will be

heard in the direction of the Cross Roads, the way Deck was goin

have the subject of the conversation changed, howev

quadron to which it belongs," re

ies have you, De

hardly enough f

e they go

come up," said Deck, as he mounted his horse and straightened himself up in th

ooked as though they had been poorly fed, if not half-starved; and when the time had come for them to have new suits of clothes, they had not obtained them. But if Captain Titus's family was without money, it could be only a temporary matter, for he could hardly hav

ty of money," continued Deck, though he

lain from his manner that he was not willing to te

my business, and I won't ask any more questions," added the cavalryman, as he whirled his

e elder brother. But there appeared to be so

y, and without even half enough to eat, with nothi

ow, Orly," interposed Sandy,

of this thing, and I shall never join the company again," returned Orly

dy very sternly. "You don't kn

alking about, and my stomac

traitor to your father and the cause, Orly?" pleaded Sa

ll he said. "My father got me into the scrape, and he

common-sense," counse

ns, Sandy, you can join the company again as soon as you like; but when you catch me there, you will find a Kentuckian without any eye-teeth," replied Orly, who was only t

talk like that before your cous

wonder that Deck don't quote Scripture to us, and gently remind us that 'the way of tr

s had become particularly

t, Deck. Don't mind what

," interjected the

d the "cause" from the implied censure of his brother. "Father spent all the ready money he had to pay for rations and tents, and some other things t

nment has got any more money than the Bank of England; and it will be a long day b

the best foot forward. "Father sent us home when we spoke of leaving, and he gave us a sort

though he did not feel fully justified in speaking in that manner of his

nborn pride did not permit him to say so outside of the family. If he had been as plain-spoken as his brother, he might have informed D

had been shot at while engaged in foraging among the farmers for food in the outskirts of the county-seat where the company was encamped, and it b

ite beverage. It provoked him to wrath, and in a fit of desperation he spoke out to him as plainly as Orly could have done it. The quarrel followed; and when Sandy declared th

a disagreeable nature to him. He realized the truth of nearly all that Orly had said in regard to the desperate situa

rry as soon as she can get money enough to

emark; for the bugle of the battalion had ceased its blast at tha

Noah; but I am not in favor of starving to death for the benefit of the Southern Confederacy. You have too much family pride when it

an to do his housework, instead of payin

n all we had to live on since we got home," returned Orly, letti

d your tongue, Orly,"

ve to stop now, for the squadron is nearly here,

een to-day. You will find me at the camp or the house," replied Deck, as he

on came near enough for him to recognize the familiar face of his relative, eve

he came to Kentucky, and is now actually Major

t an officer, D

e us both sergeants; but after we had talked with father, we d

emigrated to Kentucky, the family secrets of one of which had been so fr