Free The Rebel Spy by J. T. Edson

without any rules. The thing now is to destroy the counterfeiting plant, its plates, inks and paper. If we can do that, it’ll put back the Yankees’ plot for long enough to allow us to counter it.”
    “Can your people handle it, Miss Boyd?” Ole Devil asked.
    “I mean to try, General,” she replied.
    “You?”
    “Of course. I know New Orleans fairly well, but I may need help.”
    “You want for me to go with you, Miss Boyd?” Tolling wanted to know.
    “No. I’d like you to go into the Indian Nations and see if you can find out who Oliver was to contact. I don’t think you’re going to be any too happy about me, General Hardin.”
    “Why?” said the General.
    “Because I’m going to make a formal request that you assign Dusty to help me wreck that plant.”
    “You realise what you’re asking, Miss Boyd?” Ole Devil snapped, halting and facing the girl. “I know Dustine helped you collect those arms, but he travelled and worked in uniform. That won’t be possible this time.”
    Which meant, as Dusty knew without needing telling, that if he fell into the Yankees’ hands, he could not claim the rights and privileges accorded to a captured officer. If he went in civilian clothing, he classed as a spy and would be shot. For all that, Dusty felt a touch of pride when considering Belle Boyd, the fabled Rebel Spy, requested his assistance on a desperate and dangerous mission.
    Ole Devil did not appear so eager. “Do you consider Dustine’s presence necessary, Miss Boyd?”
    “Essential, General,” the girl assured him. “I need a man of courage and on whom I can rely implicitly. Dusty fills that need.”
    A frown creased Ole Devil’s face. Apart from personal considerations, he had his command to consider. Losing Dusty for a further indefinite period would lessen his fighting strength and the balance of power hung delicately in Arkansas. However he realised that should the Yankee counterfeiting plant not be destroyed, the War must be lost. He also appreciated the risks and difficulties facing Belle. Having a good man—which, despite his youth, Dusty was—at her back might make the difference between success and failure. So he made his decision.
    “Very well, Dustine,” he said. “You will accompany Miss Boyd and give her every possible aid. Good luck to you both.”
    “Thank you, General,” smiled the girl. “I’ve a feeling we’ll likely need it.”
    oooOooo
    * Three stars in laurel wreath: Confederate General’s collar insignia.

Chapter 6
    A Different Way of Travelling
    Due to the urgency of the situation neither Dusty nor Belle found time to sleep much on the night of Ludlow’s interrogation. They had their preparations to make for the journey. First they would ride to the nearest town on the Red River and there go by steamboat down to Alexandria, after which some way must be found by which they could reach New Orleans.
    During the first stages of the journey, Dusty would travel in uniform. To avoid attracting too much attention, he elected to wear a jacket which followed the dictates of the Confederate States Army’s Manual of Dress Regulations , including the issue-type sword and pistol belt. His dress for New Orleans would be civilian clothing of a fairly nondescript kind; town suit, boots and hat. Nor could he take along his gunbelt and matched Army Colts as they would attract too much unwanted attention. That left him with the problem of selecting a suitable weapon for his needs. Texas born and raised, Dusty believed in a gun of .44 calibre as the only type on which a man might place complete reliability. Yet none of them were small enough for easy concealment. Finally he elected to take along one Army Colt. It would be carried in his waistband, hidden under his jacket and be readily accessible when needed. Of course he would be unable to draw with his usual speed, but reckoned to be fast enough when dealing with men unused to range-style gun-handling.
    Belle too made her