1G6 WHIP AND SPUR. 



was almost ubiquitous. Every scouting-party 

 that we sent out in any direction, though en- 

 tirely without notice to him, was pretty sure to 

 meet him with important information, just when 

 information was most needed. 



This part of his work was done perfectly, but 

 he seemed to regard his relation with us as a 

 warrant for unending private iniquities. After 

 his own code of morals he was a strictly virtuous 

 man, but his code was of an extremely loose and 

 pliable character. It is probably safe to say that 

 he never murdered a Union man, and that, unless 

 sorely tempted by the difference in value of the 

 animals, he never forcibly exchanged horses with 

 a Union widow; neither, I believe, did he com- 

 mit any offence against a known Rebel when 

 there was a probability of his being found out 

 and caught ; but the complaints that came to 

 us of the manner in which he vented his pri- 

 vate wrongs and carried on the feuds of his 

 ancestors gave us frequent annoyance. Some- 

 times it seemed necessary to recall his com- 

 mission and declare him an outlaw, but just 



