le rebel army
upon us! You don't think of going over there with only twenty men!"

"I do, uncle. I'm going over on that hill yonder, and I'm coming back
again before night."

Hapgood tapped his forehead significantly with his finger to indicate
that the young lieutenant had lost his senses.

"I was ordered to do it, and I am going to do it, uncle. You can set your
mind at rest on that point."

"It can't be did!" said the old man positively. "I don't keer who told
you to do it; it can't be did with less'n twenty thousand men. You will
sacrifice yourself and all the rest of us."

"You may return to the camp, if you wish."

"Tom Somers--Lieutenant Somers," said the old man, much hurt by the words
of the young officer, "you know I'm not afraid of anything; and I didn't
expect you'd say that to me."

"Excuse me, uncle; I didn't mean it. Now, hear me a moment."

In a low tone, Lieutenant Somers told the sergeant the nature of his
mission, and what depended upon its prompt and successful execution.

"He ought to have sent a division to do such a job," muttered the old
man, taking off his cap, and scratching his bald head. "Howsomever, I'm
ready to follow you wherever you choose to go."

"Forward, then," replied Somers; and they advanced cautiously through the
woods till they came to a kind of bog-hole, beyond which they discovered
the rebel pickets.

The party lay down on the ground, and crawled on the edge of the bog,
till they obtained a fair view of the rebels.

"Now, uncle, the time has come, and my plan is formed," said Somers in a
whisper. "When they discover you, retreat with the men as fast as you
can. Fire on the rebels; but don't pay any attention to me."

"Where are you going?" demanded the old man.

"When you retire, I am going to roll into that grass. They will follow
you; and, as soon as they have passed me, I shall move forward."

"I won't do anything of the sort. Thunderation! you are goin' to run
right into the arms of the rebels."

"Obey my orders! That's all you have to do. I can take care of myself."

"Excuse me, Tom--Lieutenant Somers."

"I know all about it, uncle. You do what I tell you, and you shall have
all the particulars to-night, when I return."

"Return! You will be in Libby, if you are not shot, by dark."

"If I am, leave that to me," replied Somers, as he rolled over into the
long grass of the bog, and entirely concealed himself from the view of
his own men. "Now fire one