old times until the woman was compelled to
warn the wounded man that it would be worse for him if he excited
himself. But he talked away in spite of the warning. He talked of his
sister Katherine, much to Harry's delight, and told of his own
sweetheart in Missouri. His colonel, he said, was very fond of
Katherine, but he declared that Kate still thought of Harry, whereupon
the young fellow blushed and looked as silly as a school-girl.

Tom Ryder was the Colonel's name, and he had a sister Lucy. Miss Lucy
was Jack's choice out of a thousand, he said. The main trouble with
Jack was that his sweetheart's sister, Jane Ryder, didn't like him--and
so forth and so on, till I nodded where I sat, and dreamed of Katherine
and Jane and Lucy Ryder, until someone took me by the arm and told me
that it was time to be up and going.

We delayed our departure on one excuse and another, until finally Bill,
who was to be our guide, grew irritable; and even then we made a
further delay while Jack pencilled a note to his colonel, which Harry
was to take charge of as long as there was danger of his capture by
roving bands of Federals, and then it was to be given to the guide, who
thought he could insure its delivery.

When we were ready, and could invent no further excuse, Harry turned to
Jack. "The war doesn't touch us, dear boy. Good-by, and don't fail to
put in a good word for me when you go home."

Jack Bledsoe's face brightened up. "That's so!" he exclaimed; "I can go
home now. Well, you may depend on me, Harry; but the two Miss Ryders
are all the other way, and I'll be between two fires. Tell Whistling
Jim I have no hard feelings. He has really done me a favor, if things
turn out no worse than they are."

We bade our friend good-by again and went out into the damp morning
air, each with his various thoughts. I congratulated myself that mine
had little to do with the troublesome sex. The fog, hanging heavily
over the river, shut out the sunlight. We had to take the guide's word
for that, for we could see no sign of the sun. Indeed, it was so dark
that we had considerable difficulty in making our way. But when we were
on the other side, and had mounted the somewhat steep bank, the fog
disappeared and the sun shone out; and not far away we saw Whistling
Jim and the horses.

He hailed our coming with delight, for he had been waiting some time,
and he was both cold and frightened. He took off his hat, as he said,
to old King Sun, an