o obtain an opportunity to converse with him in
relation to his disgraceful antecedents; but the presence of the rebel
soldiers prevented him from saying a word. Yet his looks must have
betrayed the distrust he felt in his companion; for De Banyan seemed to
study his face more than the faces of their captors.

By this time, the six trusty soldiers who had been selected to
participate in the enterprise must have given them up, and returned to
the camp with the sad story of their capture. It was mortifying to Somers
to have such a report carried to the general of the division; for it
seemed to be an imputation upon his skill and tact; but he found some
consolation in believing that he should not have been taken if it had not
been for his unfortunate connection with Captain de Banyan, who was rash
beyond measure in venturing within the rebel lines, unless he really
meant to return to the Third Tennessee.

Whatever the captain was, and whatever he intended to do, Somers could
not believe that his late friend had deliberately betrayed him into the
hands of the enemy. It might be so; or it might be that to save himself
from the consequences of his alleged desertion, he would claim to have
been always a faithful adherent of the Southern Confederacy. Somers was
perplexed beyond description by the perils and uncertainties of his
situation. He had, in fact, lost confidence in his companion; and the
result was, that he resolved to make his escape, if he could, from the
hands of the rebels without him. Under other circumstances, he would have
deemed it infamous to harbor, for an instant, the thought of deserting a
friend in the hour of extremity; and nothing but the remembrance of the
Third Tennessee could have induced him to adopt such a resolution. Having
adopted it, he kept his eyes wide open for any opportunity which would
favor his purpose. His curiosity, excited to the highest pitch to know
what the captain could say in defense of the heinous charge which had
been fastened upon him by the rebel cavalry officer, and which he himself
had substantiated, rendered the intention to part company with him very
disagreeable; but the terror of a rebel prison, and perhaps a worse fate,
were potent arguments in its favor.

In the course of half an hour, the breakfast was ready, and the party sat
down with a hearty relish to discuss it. The fried bacon and biscuit were
luxuries to Somers, and he partook of them with a keener satisfaction