leans,
that is, to the South, which I reckon is lucky fur you."

Harry saw that the man had blue eyes and he saw, too, that they were
twinkling. He knew with infallible instinct that he was honest and
truthful.

"It's true," he said. "I'm a Southern soldier, and I'm in your hands."

"I see that you trust me, an' I think I kin trust you. Jest you wait
'til I put that hoss o' yourn in the lean-to behind the cabin."

He darted out of the door and returned in a minute shaking the water
from his body.

"That hoss feels better already," he said, "an' you will, too, soon.
Now, I shet this door, then I kindle up the fire ag'in, then you take
off your clothes an' put them an' yo'self afore the blaze. In time you
an' your clothes are all dry."

The man's manner was all kindness, and the poor little cabin had become
a palace. He blew at the coals, threw on dry pine knots, and in a few
minutes the flames roared up the chimney.

Harry took off his wet clothing, hung it on two cane chairs before the
fire and then proceeded to roast himself. Warmth poured back into his
body and the cold left his bones. Despite his remonstrances, Perkins
took a pot out of his cupboard and made coffee. Harry drank two cups of
it, and he knew now that the danger of chill, to be followed by fever,
was gone.

"Mr. Perkins," he said at length, "you are an angel."

Perkins laughed.

"Mebbe I air," he said, "but I 'low I don't look like one. Guess ef I
went up an' tried to j'in the real angels Gabriel would say, 'Go back,
Seth Perkins, an' improve yo'self fur four or five thousand years afore
you try to keep comp'ny like ours.' But now, Johnny Reb, sence you're
feelin' a heap better you might tell what you wuz tryin' to do, prowlin'
roun' in these woods at sech a time."

"I meant to go behind the Yankee army, see what reinforcements were
coming up, find out their plans, if I could, and report to our general."

Perkins whistled softly.

"Say," he said, "you look like a boy o' sense. What are you wastin'
your time in little things fur? Couldn't you find somethin' bigger an'
a heap more dangerous that would stir you up an' give you action?"

Harry laughed.

"I was set to do this task, Mr. Perkins," he said, "and I mean to do it."

"That shows good sperrit, but ef I wuz set to do it I wouldn't. Do you
know whar you are an' what's around you, Johnny Reb?"

"No, I don't."

"Wa'al, you're right inside o' the Union lines. The armi