now that Percival is hiding down there in the swamp?"

"I reckon Swanson must a told 'em; and he's the meanest man that was
ever let live, as you would say if you could have one look at his
face."

"I met him to-day while I was riding in company with Mr. Westall and his
friends," replied Rodney. "They made him believe I was a good rebel, and
told him to look out for a boy in his stocking feet who was mounted on a
roan colt."

"And that's just what he done. I reckon he must a ketched a glimpse of
Percival just before I fetched him into the house, for I had barely time
to hide the roan colt and get the boy into the kitchen before I seen
Swanson riding by. He didn't once look toward the house but that didn't
fool me, and I lost no time in taking Percival into the swamp where them
Union friends of mine is hid. Swanson went right on past, leaving word
at all the houses of the 'Mergency men that there was a Yankee
horse-thief loose in the kentry, and they've went out to ketch him. They
know where he is, and think to surround him and the rest of the Union
fellers and take 'em in in a lump; but they'll get fooled. There's some
sharp men in that party, and they won't allow themselves to be
surrounded."

The farmer did not tell this story in a connected way as he would if
there had been no danger near. He kept moving from one side of the
stable to another, listening and peeping at all the cracks, and talked
only when he stopped to take the horse by the nose to prevent him from
calling to those that were passing along the road; but he said enough to
make Rodney very uneasy. Tom Percival had done him a great favor by
telling Merrick who he was, describing him and his horse so minutely
that the man knew them the instant he saw them, and Rodney was very
grateful to him for it; but that sort of thing must not on any account
be repeated. It must be stopped then and there if there was any way in
which it could be done. It would never do to let Tom keep ahead of him,
spreading a description of himself and his horse among the farmers who
lived along the old post-road, for he might, without knowing it, take a
Confederate into his confidence; and suppose Rodney should afterward
fall in with that same Confederate and show him the letter addressed to
Mr. Percival, and which was intended for the eyes of Union men only? The
Confederate would at once accuse him of sailing under false colors, and
trying to pass himself off for one of Price's