“And they are now in possession of your lands?”

“Every fellow of ’em, holding on with gun in hand, and swearing to be the death of us, if we try for our own.  But we’ll show them what’s what, or I can’t fling a hatchet or aim a rifle.  This, now, Master Colleton, is the long and the short of the matter.”

“And what do you propose to do?” asked Ralph, of his informant.

“Why, what should we do, do you think, but find out who the best men are, and put them in possession.  There’s not a two-legged creature among us that won’t be willing to try that question, any how, and at any time, but more particularly now, when everything depends upon it.”

“And when do you move, Forrester?”

“Now, directly—­this very minute.  The boys have just sent for some more powder, and are putting things in readiness for a brush.”

The resolution of Ralph was at once adopted.  He had nothing, it is true, to do with the matter—­no interest at stake, and certainly no sympathy with the lawless men who went forth to fight for a property, to which they had not a jot more of right than had those who usurped it from them.  But here was a scene—­here was incident, excitement—­and with all the enthusiasm of the southern temper, and with that uncalculating warmth which so much distinguishes it, he determined, without much regard to the merits of the question, to go along with the party.

“I’ll ride with you, Forrester, and see what’s going on.”

“And stand up with us, ’squire, and join in the scuffle?” inquired his companion.

“I say not that, Forrester.  I have no concern in this matter, and so long as I am let alone myself, I see no reason for taking part in an affair, of the merits of which I am almost entirely ignorant.”

“You will take your arms with you, I suppose.  You can lend them to those who fight, though you make no use of them yourself.”

“Yes—­I never go without arms in travelling, but I shall not lend them.  A man should no more lend his arms than he should lend his coat.  Every man should have his own weapons.”

“Yes; but, ’squire, if you go along with us, you may be brought into the scrape.  The other party may choose to consider you one of us.”

“It is for this reason, not less than others, that I would carry and not lend my arms.”

“Well, ’squire, you might lend them to some of us, and I would answer for them.  It’s true, as you say, that every man should have his own weapons; but some among us, you see, ha’n’t got ’em, and it’s for that we’ve been waiting.  But come, it’s time to start; the boys are beginning to be in motion; and here come Munro and that skunk Rivers.  I reckon Munro will have the command, for he’s thought to be the most cunning among us.”