arby waited as if in deep reflection.

"I understand," he said. "I'll guide you."

The silence that followed seemed to extend all over the camp. The
commander was reflecting and the others had their eyes fastened on
Darby. As for him, he sat as unmoved as if he had been alone in the
woods.

"All right," said the leader, suddenly, "it's a bargain: we'll take your
road. What do you want?"

"Could you gi'me a cup o' coffee? It's been some little time since I had
anything to eat, an' I been sort o' sick."

"You shall have 'em," said the officer, "and good pay besides, if you
lead us straight; if not, a limb and a halter rein; you understand?"

A quarter of an hour later they were on the march, Darby trudging in
front down the middle of the muddy road between two of the advance
guard, whose carbines were conveniently carried to insure his fidelity.
What he thought of, who might know?--plain; poor; ignorant; unknown;
marching every step voluntarily nearer to certain and ignominious death
for the sake of his cause.

As day broke they saw a few people who lived near the road, and some of
them recognized Darby and looked their astonishment to see him guiding
them. One or two of the women broke out at him for a traitor and a dog,
to which he said nothing; but only looked a little defiant with two red
spots burning in his thin cheeks, and trudged on as before; now and then
answering a question; but for the most part silent.

He must have thought of his mother, old and by herself in her cabin;
but she would not live long; and of Vashti some. She had called him a
deserter, as the other women had done. A verse from the Testament she
gave him may have come into his mind; he had never quite understood it:
"Blessed are ye when men shall revile ye." Was this what it meant?
This and another one seemed to come together. It was something about
"enduring hardship like a good soldier", he could not remember it
exactly. Yes, he could do that. But Vashti had called him a deserter.
Maybe now though she would not; and the words in the letter she had
written him came to him, and the little package in his old jacket pocket
made a warm place there; and he felt a little fresher than before. The
sun came up and warmed him as he trudged along, and the country grew
flatter and flatter, and the road deeper and deeper. They were passing
down into the bottom. On either side of them were white-oak swamps, so
that they could not see a hundred yards