It's a perfectly simple question in mathematics. Let x equal the anger
of the South, let y equal the anger of the North, let 10 equal the
percentage of reason, 100, of course, being the whole, then you have
x + y + 10 equalling 100. The anger of the two sections is consequently
x + y, equalling 100 - 10, or 90. When anger constitutes 90 per cent.,
what chance has reason, which is only 10 per cent., or one-ninth of
anger?"
"No chance at all," replied Dick. "That has already been proved without
the aid of algebra. Here is a man in a cornfield signaling to us.
I wonder what he wants?"
As Dick spoke, Colonel Winchester, who had already noticed the man,
gave an order to stop. The stranger, bent and knotted by hard work on
the farm, hurried toward them. He leaned against the fence a moment,
gasping for breath, and then said:
"You're Union men, ain't you? It's no disguise?"
"Yes," replied Colonel Winchester, "we're Union men, and it's no disguise
that we're wearing, Malachi White. I've seen you several times in
Frankfort, selling hay."
The farmer, who had climbed upon the fence and who was sitting on the top
rail, hands on his knees, stared at him open-mouthed.
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