en
came to the gate and asked for him."

"I reckon it's all right," said Mr. Truman, who did not believe that his
friend Merrick would have taken these two young fellows into his house
if he had not had the best of reasons for thinking that they could be
trusted. "What did you say your names might be?" he added, beckoning to
one of his darkies and indicating by a wave of his hand that the horses
were to be housed and fed.

While the guide was telling his story he had not mentioned any names. He
had simply referred to the boys as "dese yer gentlemen." designating the
one of whom he happened to be speaking by a nod or a jerk of his thumb.
Tom waited until the horses were led away and then said, in a low tone:

"My friend's name is Gray, and as you have already heard he is from
Louisiana. The Secesh were too thick there to suit him and so he came up
here, hoping to find everybody Union."

"Humph!" said Mr. Truman.

"He has found out his mistake," continued Tom. "Ever since he has been
in the State he has been dodging rebels, and has traveled more miles in
the woods than he has on the highway. Do you know Justus Percival?"

"Do you?" asked Truman in reply.

"I ought to. He's my uncle, and Percival is my name; but I wish you
wouldn't address me by it unless you know who is listening."

"But when you left Cedar Bluff landing you were riding a roan colt and
had no boots on," said Mr. Truman, first looking all around to make sure
that there was no one near to catch his words. "I was sorter on the
watch for such a fellow, for I thought maybe he'd need help."

"Great Scott!" said Rodney, who was very much surprised. "Has that man
Swanson been through here? It can't be possible. His crowbait of a mule
couldn't carry him so far."

"I don't know anybody of that name, but I know about the roan colt that
wasn't stolen from Pilot Knob," replied the farmer. "Let's go in and see
if the women folks can't scare up a bite to eat."

"One moment, please," Tom interposed. "Do you know anything about
Merrick's boy? Is he Union or Secesh?"

"Union and nothing else. The niggers all are, but of course they are
afraid to say so."

"That boy has got red eyes," said Tom. "And you know as well as I can
tell you that a darkey of that sort is always treacherous. We don't like
the way he has been listening to our talk ever since we left Hobson's
camp. Couldn't you make some excuse to keep him here till morning?"

"Job!" yelled the farmer