commander had saved a friendly Indian from a beating, that being
General Cass' order, as well as what his humanity prompted, though at
the same time there had been Indian tragedy in his own family, and he
had the racial Indian hatred in his blood. The mutineers threatened
still to shoot the captive.

"Not unless you shoot _me!_" rejoined the taunted commander.

The men recoiled; but one voiced the general sentiment in:

"This is cowardly on your part, Lincoln, presuming on your rank!"

"If any of you think that, let him test it here and now!" was the
reply, equally as oblivious of military decorum.

But they flinched, for he was larger and lustier than anybody else.

"You can level up," he said, guessing their reasoning; "choose your
own weapons."

The more sane roared with laughter at this monstrous offer on the
superior's part, and the good feeling was renewed between chief and
file.


* * * * *


GENERAL McCLELLAN'S OPINION OF LINCOLN AS A LAWYER.