had studied McGuffey’s Readers, Mitchell’s Geography, and Ray’s Arithmetics at school, admired the same great men, and held generally the same opinions on any given subject.  It was never difficult to get them to act in unison—­they did it spontaneously; while it required an effort to bring about harmony of action with those from other sections.  Had the Western boys in prison been thoroughly advised of the nature of our enterprise, we could, doubtless, have commanded their cordial assistance, but they were not, and there was no way in which it could be done readily, until after the decisive blow was struck.

The work of arresting the leading Raiders went on actively all day on the Fourth of July.  They made occasional shows of fierce resistance, but the events of the day before had destroyed their prestige, broken their confidence, and driven away from their, support very many who followed their lead when they were considered all-powerful.  They scattered from their, former haunts, and mingled with the crowds in other parts of the prison, but were recognized, and reported to Key, who sent parties to arrest them.  Several times they managed to collect enough adherents to drive off the squads sent after them, but this only gave them a short respite, for the squad would return reinforced, and make short work of them.  Besides, the prisoners generally were beginning to understand and approve of the Regulators’ movement, and were disposed to give all the assistance needed.

Myself and “Egypt,” my taciturn Lieutenant of the sinewy left arm, were sent with our company to arrest Pete Donnelly, a notorious character, and leader of, a bad crowd.  He was more “knocker” than Raider, however.  He was an old Pemberton building acquaintance, and as we marched up to where he was standing at the head of his gathering clan, he recognized me and said: 

“Hello, Illinoy,” (the name by which I was generally known in prison) “what do you want here?”

I replied, “Pete, Key has sent me for you.  I want you to go to headquarters.”

“What the ——­ does Key want with me?”

“I don’t know, I’m sure; he only said to bring you.”

“But I haven’t had anything to do with them other snoozers you have been a-having trouble with.”

“I don’t know anything about that; you can talk to Key as to that.  I only know that we are sent for you.”

“Well, you don’t think you can take me unless I choose to go?  You haint got anybody in that crowd big enough to make it worth while for him to waste his time trying it.”

I replied diffidently that one never knew what—­he could do till he tried; that while none of us were very big, we were as willing a lot of little fellows as he ever saw, and if it were all the same to him, we would undertake to waste a little time getting him to headquarters.

The conversation seemed unnecessarily long to “Egypt,” who stood by my side; about a half step in advance.  Pete was becoming angrier and more defiant every minute.  His followers were crowding up to us, club in hand.  Finally Pete thrust his fist in my face, and roared out: