to?" demanded De Banyan, reining in his fiery
steed.

"Prince George's Court House, massa," replied the man. "Wha' for you
gwine down dar?"

De Banyan was not disposed to answer any unnecessary questions, and again
spurred on his horse.

"See here, massa!" shouted the negro.

"What do you want?" asked De Banyan impatiently; for, being a Southerner
himself, he had no particular respect for the negro race.

"Don't go down dar, massa."

"Why not?"

"Git cotched if you do, massa," said the man with an expressive grin. "De
sodgers on de horses is down dar arter you."

"How do you know they are after us, you black rascal?"

"Kase dey ax dis chile if he see two men, one ob 'em dressed like de
'federate ossifer, and de odder a Yank. Dis nigger didn't see no sich
pussons den; but, golly, sees um now fur sartin. You done git cotched as
shore as you was born, massa, if you go down dar."

"Where shall we go, then?"

"Dunno, massa; but you mustn't be seen gwine down dar."

"How many soldiers did you meet?"

"Four, sar."

"This won't do, Somers. How is your arm?"

"It begins to ache. We may as well go forward as back," said Somers, who
was now suffering severely from his wound, which had not been improved by
the hard gallop of the horse he rode.

"Who lives in that house?" demanded De Banyan of the negro, pointing to a
splendid dwelling a short distance ahead.

"Dr. Scoville, massa."

"Doctor?" replied the captain, glancing at Somers.

"Yes, sar; Dr. Scoville. Dat's a mighty fine mar you rides, massa. I
reckon dat's Captain Sheffield's mar."

"Very likely."

"Don't mind me, massa; dis chile's a Union man for shore," grinned the
negro.

"All the negroes are Union men," replied Somers faintly.

"Dat's so, massa!"

"What's Dr. Scoville?" asked De Banyan hopefully.

"Secesh, massa--drefful secesh. He done been in de army fur a surgeon."

"He is a dangerous man, then."

"Dar, massa, dar!" shouted the negro suddenly, as he pointed down the
road over which the fugitives had just come. "Dey's some more arter you."

De Banyan started his horse again, followed by Somers; but it was evident
from the appearance of the latter that the chase was nearly finished for
him. He was beginning to feel very faint from the loss of blood, while
the pain of his wounded arm was almost unsupportable. The gait of the
horse seemed to wrench the bones asunder, and cause the shattered parts
to grate against each other.

"Hu