I remember, Colonel, that, despite its smallness, it is one of the great river towns of the South." "So it is, Dick.

I was here once, when I was a boy before the Mexican war.

Down on the bar, the low place between the bluffs and the river, was the dueling ground, and it was also the place for sudden fights.

It and Natchez, I suppose, were rivals for the wild and violent life of the great river." "Well, sir, it has a bigger fight on its hands now than was ever dreamed of by any of those men." "I think you're right, Dick, but the general means to attack at once.

We may carry it by storm." Dick looked again at the vast entanglement of creeks, bayous, ravines, forests and thickets.