ck. "Maybe we
can get useful information from them."

"I judge that the singer will talk about almost everything except what
we want to know," said the shrewd and experienced sergeant, "but we can
certainly do no harm by speaking to him. Of course they have seen us. No
doubt they saw us before we saw them."

The three rode forward, saluted politely and the fence-menders,
stopping their work, saluted in the same polite fashion. Then they stood
expectant.

"We belong to a detachment which is marching southward to join the Union
army under General Thomas," said Dick. "Perhaps you could tell us the
best road."

"I might an' ag'in I mightn't, stranger. If you don't talk much you
never have much to take back. If I knew where that army is it would
be easy for me to tell you, but if I didn't know I couldn't. Now, the
question is, do I know or don't I know? Do you think you can decide it
for me stranger?"

It was impossible for Dick or the sergeant to take offense. The man's
gaze was perfectly frank and open and his eyes twinkled as he spoke.
The boy with him smiled widely, showing both rows of his powerful white
teeth.

"We can't decide it until we know you better," said Dick in a light
tone.

"I'm willin' to tell you who I am. My name is Sam Jarvis, an' this
lunkhead here is my nephew, Ike Simmons, the son of my sister, who keeps
my house. Now I want to tell you, young stranger, that since this war
began and the Yankees and the Johnnies have taken a notion to shoot up
one another, people who would never have thought of doin' it before,
have come wanderin' into these mountains. But you can get a hint about
'em sometimes. Young man, do you want me to tell you your name?"

"Tell me my name!" responded Dick in astonishment. "Of course you can't
do it! You never saw or heard of me before."

"Mebbe no," replied Jarvis, with calm confidence, "but all the same
your name is Dick Mason, and you come from a town in Kentucky called
Pendleton. You've been serving with the Yanks in the East, an' you've a
cousin, named Harry Kenton, who's been servin' there also, but with the
Johnnies. Now, am I a good guesser or am I just a plum' ignorant fool?"

Dick stared at him in deepening amazement.

"You do more than guess," he replied. "You know. Everything that you
said is true."

"Tell me this," said Jarvis. "Was that cousin of yours, Harry Kenton,
killed in the big battle at Bull Run? I've been tremenjeously anxious
about him eve