to THADDEUS]. Come along, you can help.

MARY [louder]. That's the drinkin' water pail.

SERGEANT. That's all right.

[The SERGEANT, DICK, and THADDEUS go out back. MARY needs more wood for
the fire, so she follows them in a moment. When she has disappeared,
the NORTHERNER drags himself from the cubby-hole. He looks as though he
would fall with exhaustion. MARY returns with an armful of wood.]

MARY [sees the NORTHERNER. Shows no sympathy for the man in this speech,
nor during the entire scene]. Ye git back! Them soldiers'll see ye.

NORTHERNER. Some water. Quick. [Falls into chair at left of table.] It
was so hot in there.

MARY [gives him water in the dipper]. Don't ye faint here. If them
soldiers git ye, they'll kill me an' Thad. Hustle an' git back in the
cubby-hole. [MARY turns quickly to the stove. The NORTHERNER drinks the
water; puts dipper on table, then, summoning all his strength, rises and
crosses to MARY. He touches her on the shoulder. MARY is so startled,
that she jumps and utters a faint cry.]

NORTHERNER. Be still, or they'll hear you. How are you going to get me
out of this?

MARY [angrily]. Ye git out. Why did ye come here, a-bringin' me all this
extra work, an' maybe death?

NORTHERNER. I couldn't go any farther. My horse and I were both near
dropping. Won't you help me?

MARY. No, I won't. I don't know who ye are or nothin' 'bout ye, 'cept
that them men want t' ketch ye. [In a changed tone of curiosity.] Did ye
steal somethin' from 'em?

NORTHERNER. Don't you understand? Those men belong to the Confederacy,
and I'm a Northerner. They've been chasing me all day. [Pulling a bit
of crumpled paper from his breast.] They want this paper. If they get it
before to-morrow morning it will mean the greatest disaster that's ever
come to the Union army.

MARY [with frank curiosity]. Was it ye rode by yesterday?

NORTHERNER. Don't you see what you can do? Get me out of here and away
from those men, and you'll have done more than any soldier could do for
the country--for your country.

MARY. I ain't got no country. Me an' Thad's only got this farm. Thad's
ailin', an' I do most the work, an'----

NORTHERNER. The lives of thirty thousand men hang by a thread. I must
save them. And you must help me.

MARY. I don't know nothin' 'bout ye, an' I don't know what ye're talkin'
'bout.

NORTHERNER. Only help me get away.

MARY [angrily]. No one ever helped me or Thad. I lift no finger in this
busine