"I am very glad to hear that," said Rodney to himself. "Tom needs help,
if any one ever did, and I hope he will get it. It's going to be
ticklish business steering clear of Union men, is it not!" he said,
aloud.

Mr. Westall thought it was, but still he did not have very much to say
about it, for since Rodney was resolved to go on, he did not want to
discourage him. As his journey progressed he would learn all about the
obstacles and dangers that lay in his course, and when they came, he
would have to surmount or get around them the best way he could. A mile
or so farther on they came to another crossroad, and there Mr. Westall
drew rein and held out his hand to Rodney.

"Our course lies off that way," said he, "and we must bid you good-by.
You've got money and letters, and know as much about the road ahead of
you and the people who live on it as we know ourselves. Is there
anything we can do for you that you think of?"

"Not a thing, thank you," replied the boy, as he shook hands with each
of the Emergency men. "You have been very kind, and I believe the advice
and information you have given me will take me safely through. Good-by;
and whenever you hear that Price has whipped the Yankees, you may know
that I was there to help him do it."

"That's the right spirit, anyway. I like your pluck, and if we see you
again, we shall expect to see you wearing an officer's uniform."

The Emergency men lifted their hats and galloped off down the
cross-road, and Rodney Gray was left alone in a strange country, and
with letters on "his person that would compromise him with any party of
men into whose company he chanced to fall. There was Tom's horse, too.
The animal was bound to bring his rider into trouble of some sort, for
of course a description of him had been carried through the country for
miles in advance. He felt savage toward the innocent beast which was
carrying him along in an easy foxtrot, and bitterly hostile toward Tom
Percival who had blundered into his way when he was least expecting to
see him.

"Why didn't he stay in his own part of the State where he belonged?"
thought Rodney, spitefully. "I hope to goodness the Yankees--but after
all it was my own fault, for didn't I hand him that stick and give him
the only revolver I had? And he couldn't have got his own horse out of
that yard without arousing the dogs. It's all right, and I won't quarrel
with Tom Percival."

To Rodney's great relief he did not meet