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〃You need not hold him；〃 Vincent said。 〃It is not because one
wears a black coat and is adverse to fighting that one is not able to
defend one's self。 We all learn the same things at college whether
we are going into the church or any other profession。 You can let
him alone if he really wants any more； which I do not believe。 I
should be ashamed of myself if I could not punish a ruffian of his
kind。〃
〃Let me get at him！〃 yelled Mullens； and the men who held him；
taking Vincent at his word； released hirn。 He rushed forward； but
was received with another tremendous blow on the mouth。 He
paused a moment in his rush； and Vincent； springing forward；
administered another blow upon the same spot； knocking him off
his legs on to the floor。 On getting up he gave no sign of a desire
to renew the conflict。 His lips were badly cut and the bood was
streaming from his month； and he looked at Vincent with an air of
absolute bewilderment。 The latter； seeing that the conflict was
over； quietly resumed his seat； while several of the passengers
came up to him； and； shaking him warmly by the band；
congratulated him upon having punished his assailant。
〃I wish we had a few more ministers of your sort down this way；〃
one said。 〃That's the sort of preaching fellows like this understand。
It was well you got his six…shooter out of his hand； for he would
have used it as sure as fate。 He ought to have been lynched long
ago； but since the troubles began these fellows have had all their
own way。 But look to yourself when he gets out； he belongs to a
hand who call themselves Unionists； but who are nothing but
plunderers and robbers。 If you take my advice； when you get to the
end of your journey you will not leave the station； but take a ticket
straight back north。 I tell you your life won't be safe five minutes
when you once get outside the town。 They daren't do anything
there； for though folks have had to put up with a good deal they
wouldn't stand the shooting of a minister； still； outside the town I
would not answer for your life for an hour。〃
〃I have my duties to perform；〃 Vincent said； 〃and I shall certainly
carry them through； but I am obliged to you for your advice I can
quite understand that ruffian；〃 and he looked at Mullens； who； with
his handkerchief to his mouth； was sitting alone in a corner…for the
rest had all drawn away from him in disgust…and glaring ferocious
sly at him； 〃will revenge himself if he has the opportunity。
However as far as possible I shall be on my guard。〃
〃At any rate；〃 the man said； 〃I should advise you when you get to
Nashville to charge him with assault。 We can all testify that he
laid hands on you first。 That way he will get locked up for some
days anyhow； and you can go away about your business； and he
won't know where to find you when he gets out。〃
〃Thank you…that would be a very good plan； but I might lose a day
or two in having to appear against him； I am pressed for time and
have some important business on hand and I have no doubt I shall
be able to throw him off my track； finish my business； and be off
again before he can come across me。〃
〃Well； I hope no harm will come of it；〃 the other said。 〃I like you；
and I never saw any one hit so quickly and so hard。 It's a
downright pity you are a preacher。 My name's John Morrison； and
my farm is ten miles from Nashville； on the Cumberland River。 If
you should be going in that direction I should be right glad if you
would drop in on me。〃
The real reason that decided Vincent against following the advice
to give his assailant in charge was that he feared he himself might
be questioned as to the object of his journey and his destination。
The fellow would not improbably say that he believed he was the
Confederate officer who was trying to escape in the disguise of a
clergyman and that he had therefore tried to arrest him。 He could
of course give no grounds for the accusation； still questions might
be asked which would be impossible for him to answer； and；
however plausible a story he might invent； the lawyer whom the
fellow would doubtless employ to defend him might suggest that
the truth of his statements might be easily tested by the despatch of
a telegram； in which ease he would be placed in a most awkward
situation。 It was better to run the risk of trouble with the fellow
and his gang than to do anything which might lead to inquiries as
to his identity。
When the train reached Nashville； Vincent proceeded to an hotel。
It was already late in the afternoon； for the journey had occupied
more than thirty hours。 As soon as it was dark be went out again
and joined Dan； whom he had ordered to follow him at a distance
and to be at the corner of the first turning to the right of the hotel
as soon as it became dark。 Dan was at the point agreed upon； and
he followed Vincent until the latter stopped in a quiet and badly
lighted street。
〃Things are going badly； Dan。 I had a row with a ruffian in the
train； and he has got friends here； and this will add greatly to our
danger in getting to our lines。 I must get another disguise。 What
money have you left？〃
〃Not a cent； sah。 I had only a five…cent piece left when we left St。
Louis； and I spent him on bread on do journey。〃
〃That is bad； Dan。 I did not think your stock was so nearly
expended。〃
〃I had to keep myself； sah； and to pay for do railroad； and to buy
dem tree suits of clothes； and to make de nigger I lodged with a
present to keep him mouth shut。〃
〃Oh； I know you have had lots of expenses； Dan； and I am sure that
you have not wasted your money； but I had not thought about it。 I
have only got ten dollars left； and we may have a hundred and fifty
miles to travel before we are safe。 Anyhow； you must get another
disguise； and trust to luck for the rest。 We have tramped a hundred
and fifty miles before now without having anything beyond what
we could pick up on the road。 Here's the money。 Get a rough suit
of workingman's clothes； and join me here again in an hour's time。
Let us find out the name of the street before we separate； for we
may miss our way and not be able to meet again。〃
Passing up into the busy streets； Vincent presently stopped and
purchased a paper of a newsboy who was running along shouting；
〃News from the war。 Defeat of the rebels。 Fight in a railway car
near Nashville； a minister punishes a border ruffian。〃
〃Confound those newspaper fellows！〃 Vincent muttered to himself
as he walked away。 〃They pick up every scrap of news。 I suppose
a reporter got hold of some one who was in the car。〃 Turning
down a quiet street； he opened the paper and by the light of the
lamp read a graphic and minute account of the struggle in the
train。
〃I won't go back to the hotel；〃 he said to himself。 〃I shall be
having reporters to interview me。 I shall be expected to give them
a history of my whole life； where