of death.

THERE, would be the patriot's pride and the soldier's guerdon of
valor. He would be in the van of such an uprising. He scorns to be
a petty buccaneer, a butcher of half-armed natives, a rover and
a robber. In every scene, through the days of 1859, Valois bears
himself as a cavalier. Personal feud was not his object.

In the prominence of his high position, Valois travels the State.
He confers with the secret councils at San Francisco. He is ready
to lead in his regions when needed. The dark cabal of Secession
sends out trusty secret agents, even as Gillespie and Larkin called
forth the puppets of Polk, Buchanan and Marcy to action. Valois
hopes his friends can seize California for the South. Fenced off
from Oregon and the East by the Sierras, there is the open connection
with the South by Arizona.

A few regiments of Texan horse can hold this great gold-field for
the South. Valois deems it impossible for California to be recaptured
if once won. He knows that Southern agents are ready to stir up
the great tribes of the plains against the Yankees. The last great
force, the United States Navy, is to be removed. Philip Hardin
tells him how the best ships of the navy are being dismantled, or
ordered away to foreign stations. Great frigates are laid up in
Southern navy-yards. Ordnance supplies and material are pushed
toward the Gulf. Appropriations are expended to aid these plans.
The leaders of the army, now scattered under Southern commanders,
are ready to turn over to the South the whole available national
material of war. Never dreaming of aught but success, Valois fears
only that he may be assigned to Western duties. This will keep him