d I'm bound not to
go in any of your fancy regiments. I want to fight when I go."

"You'll do, sonny. Now, what ye doing here?"

"I came out a-fishing, but I got tired, and went to sleep."

"Where's your fish-line?"

"In the boat."

"What ye got in that handkerchief?"

"My dinner," replied Tom. "Won't you take a bite?"

"What ye got?"

"A piece of cold chicken and some bread."

"We don't mind it now, sonny. Hev you seen any men with this gear on in
these yere parts?" asked Jarvey, as he pointed to his uniform.

"Yes, _sir_," replied Tom, vigorously.

"Whar d'ye see 'em, sonny?"

"They crossed the ford, just above, only a little while ago."

"How many?"

"Two," replied Tom, with promptness.

"Where's the other?" asked Jarvey, turning to his companion.

"He's in these yere woods, somewhar. We'll fotch 'em before night. You say
the two men crossed the ford--did ye, sonny?"

"Yes, half an hour ago. What is the matter with them?"

"They're mean trash, and want to run off. Now, sonny, 'spose you put us
over the river in your boat."

"Yes, _sir_!" replied Tom, readily.

The two wildcats got into the bateau, nearly swamping it by their great
weight, and Tom soon landed them on the other side of the river.

"Thank'e, sonny," said Jarvey, as they jumped on shore. "If you were only
four foot higher, we'd like to take you into our regiment. You'll make a
right smart chance of a soldier one of these yere days. Good by, sonny."

"Good by," answered Tom, as he drew a long breath, indicative of his
satisfaction at being so well rid of his passengers.

He had fully persuaded himself that he should be carried off a prisoner to
this wildcat regiment, and he could hardly believe his senses when he
found himself again safely floating down the rapid tide of the Shenandoah.
His impudence and his self-possession had saved him; but it was a mystery
to him that his uniform, or the absence of his fish-line, or the answers
he gave, had not betrayed him. The mountaineers had probably not yet seen
a United States uniform, or they would, at least, have questioned him
about his dress.

Tom ran down the river a short distance farther before he ventured to stop
again, for he could not hope to meet with many rebel soldiers who were so
innocent and inexperienced as these wildcats of the mountains had been.
When the darkness favored his movements, he again embarked upon his
voyage. Twice during the night his boat got aground,