a few yards distant, while Harold stretched himself upon the log and
closed his weary eyes.

He thought he had hardly done so when Duncan touched his arm.

"Sorry to wake you, Allison, but time is precious; and, like the beggars,
we must eat and run."

The basket was heaped high with large, delicious berries, which greatly
refreshed our travelers.

"Now, then, are you equal to another effort?" asked Duncan, as the last
one disappeared, and he thrust the leaves into his pocket, adding, "We
mustn't leave these to tell tales to our pursuers."

"Yes, I dare not linger here," returned Allison, rising but totteringly.

Duncan threw an arm about him, and again they pressed forward, toiling on
for another half-hour; when Allison again gave out, and sinking upon the
ground, begged his friend to leave him and secure his own safety.

"Never!" cried Duncan, "never! There would be more, many more, to mourn
your loss than mine. Who would shed a tear for me but Aunt Wealthy? Dear
old soul, it would be hard for her, I know; but she'd soon follow me."

"Yes, you are her all; but there's a large family of us, and I could
easily be spared."

Duncan shook his head. "Was your brother who fell at Ball's Bluff easily
spared? But hark! what was that?" He bent his ear to the ground. "The
distant bay of hounds! We must push on!" he cried, starting up in haste.

"Bloodhounds on our track? Horrible!" exclaimed Harold, also starting to
his feet, weakness and fatigue forgotten for the moment, in the terror
inspired by that thought.

Duncan again gave him the support of his arm, and for the next half-hour
they pressed on quite rapidly; yet their pursuers were gaining on them,
for the bay of the hounds, though still distant, could now be distinctly
heard, and Allison's strength again gave away.

"I--can--go no farther, Duncan," he said, pantingly; "let me climb up yon
tall oak and conceal myself among the branches, while you hurry on."

"No, no, they would discover you directly, and it would be surrender or
die. Ah, see! there's a little log cabin behind those bushes, and who
knows but we may find help there. Courage, and hope, my boy;" and almost
carrying Harold, Duncan hurried to the door of the hut.

Pushing it open, and seeing an old negro inside, "Cato, Caesar----"

"Uncle Scip, sah," grinned the negro.

"Well, no matter for the name; will you help us? We're Federal soldiers
just escaped from Andersonville, and they're after us