He didn't know B from a bull's foot in the spelling-book.

But he said, _the law_.
Now, when anyone says anything about the "law," every one stops to listen.

Jim says, "Ah, Ganny, _the law_" (laying great stress upon the law)--"allows every man who has twenty negroes to stay at home.

Ah, Ganny!" Those old soldiers had long, long ago, forgotten about that old "law" of the long gone past; but Jim had treasured it up in his memory, lo! these many years, and he thought it would serve him now, as it had, no doubt, frequently done in the past.

The conscript officer said, "Law or no law--you fall into line, take this gun and cartridge-box, and _march_!" Jim's spirits sank; his hopes vanished into air.