That was the first time that John Barclay met the famous Captain Lee.

He was a great hulk of a man who, John thought, looked like a pirate.

The boys led the men and their horses up the dry limestone bed of the stream to the swimming hole--a deep pool in the creek.

The coming of the soldiers made a stir in the town.

For they were not "regulars"; they were known as the Red Legs, but called themselves "The Army of the Border." Under Captain J.Lord Lee--whose life afterwards touched Barclay's sometimes--"The Army of the Border," being about forty in number, came to Sycamore Ridge that night, and greatly to the scandal of the decent village, there appeared with the men two women in short skirts and red leggins, who were introduced at Schnitzler's saloon as Happy Hally and Lady Lee.
"The Army of the Border," under J.Lord and Lady Lee,--as they were known,--proceeded to get bawling drunk, whereupon they introduced to the town the song which for the moment was the national hymn of Kansas:-- "Am I a soldier of the boss, A follower of Jim Lane?
Then should I fear to steal a hoss, Or blush to ride the same." As the night deepened and Henry Schnitzler's supply of liquor seemed exhaustless, the Army of the Border went from song to war and wandered about banging doors and demanding to know if any white-livered Missourian in the town was man enough to come out and fight.