"These be war times an' it's important to know what a fellow is.

Be you for the Union or are you with the Secesh ?" Dick was quite sure that whatever he answered they would immediately claim to be on the opposite side.

Then would follow robbery and perhaps murder.
"Which is your side ?" he asked.
"But we put the question first," the fellow replied.
Dick no longer had any doubts.

The second man was drawing his horse up by the side of him, as if to seize him, while the first continued to bar the way.

He was alarmed, deeply alarmed, but he lost neither his courage nor his presence of mind.