than he did of the costly viands of the "Continental" and the "National;"
but, deeply as he was interested in this pleasant employment, he hardly
ceased for a moment to think of the grand project of making his escape.
For the time, this had become the great business of existence, and he
banished from his mind all minor questions.

Opportunity is seldom wanting to those who are resolutely determined to
do great deeds. Only the slow-molded and irresolute want a time and a
place. The breakfast was finished, and the troopers and their prisoners
were on excellent terms with each other long before the conclusion of the
repast. Eating and drinking promote the social feeling; and Captain de
Banyan was as brilliant as he had ever been in the camps of the
Chickahominy. He made the rebels laugh, and excited their wonder by the
most improbable stories in which even he had ever indulged. It would have
been impossible to distinguish between the captives and the captors; for
the latter were extremely considerate, as they had probably been
instructed to be by the captain of the company.

When the meal was finished, the troopers rose, and proposed to resume the
journey. De Banyan paid the bill in gold; for there was still a small
portion of the precious metal in the army.

"Now we are ready," said the sergeant; "and we will get our horses. It's
a pity we haven't horses for you; but, when you get tired, we will give
you the use of the saddles for a time."

"Thank you, my friend. That's handsome. You remind me of a Russian
major-general, who insisted that I should ride his animal while he walked
by my side, after I was taken prisoner in the battle of Austerlitz."

"He was a good fellow," replied the sergeant, who probably did not
remember the precise date of the celebrated battle quoted by the
versatile captain. "We shall not be behind him; and, if you like, you
shall have the first ride on my horse."

"Thank you; but I couldn't think of depriving you of your horse, even for
a moment."

"Well, we will settle all that by and by. Come with me now, if you
please," said the sergeant, as he led the way out of the house.

As very little attention seemed to be paid to Somers--for the rebels
evidently did not regard him as either a slippery or a dangerous
person--he was permitted to bring up the rear. Now, it is always
mortifying to be held in slight esteem, especially to a sensitive mind
like that of our hero; and he resented the sligh