Two Little Confederates

go to bed. Their mother was too much occupied with her charge of providing for a family of over a dozen white persons, and five times as many colored dependents, to give any time to a

to take both guns and to set out

lunch was prepared they started in high glee, talking

d both carried a plentiful supply of powder and

y knew that game was not very abundant there; so, as a good long day wa

eeing anything but one squirrel, and presently found themselves at the extreme edge of Holetown. They were just grumbling

ing?-or is it a dinner-horn?" a

at's what 'tis," said Frank, pleas

let's go and hunt desert

toward a point where they knew one of the paths ran into the pine-

s that they did not wish to be seen by any of the women or children about the cabins, for they all knew the boys, because they were accustomed to come to Oakland for supplies; then, too, the boys wished to remain on friendly terms with their neighbors. Another thing worried them. They di

they should go in Indian file and that the rear one should step in the other's footprints as the Indians do; but Frank thought it was best to walk abreast, as the Indians walked in their peculiar way only to prevent an enemy who crossed their trail from knowing how many they were; and, so far from it being an

ck clump of bushes; peeping behind each very large tree; and occasionally even taking a glance up among its boughs; for they had themselves so often planned how, if pursued

m,-an exercise of virtue which brought them a distinct feeling of pleasure. They were, however, beginning to be embarrassed as to their next course. They could hear the dogs barking farther on in the pines, and knew they were approaching the vicinity of the settlement; for they had crossed the little creek which ran through a thicket of elder bushes and "gums," and which marked the boundary of Holetown. Little paths, too, every now and then turned off from the main track and went

w that he was simply a countryman out hunting; for his old game-bag (from which peeped a squirr

sir," said both

ly, stopping and putting the butt of his gun on the gr

ing; we're hunt

ch broke into a chuckle of amusement as the thought

greatly pleased at his friendlin

ed his head, se

site to that which the boys were taking. "I seen the conscrip'-guard a little while ago pokin' 'roun' this-a-way; but Lor', that ain' th

er to the boys' hopes. Clearly, the

at our lunch," said Fra

ittle way and find a log. This all three did; and in a few minutes they were enjoying the lunch which the boys' mother had

nowd they warn' no deserters, but ole womens and children," he said with

a cave down on the river, and we we

t's mill; fur I've hunted and fished ev'y foot o' that river up an' down both

conclusive to admit

e army?" asked Willy, a

ed the hunter. "Why, I's in the army! You

l of surprise that Willy felt deeply mortified at his rudene

ll enough to go back now, but I's anxious to git back; I'm gwine to-morrow mornin' ef I don' go this evenin'. You see I kin hardly walk now!" and to demonstrate his lameness, h

d Willy, moving nearer to the man with a look

lacing his hand very gently to his side. "This one's whar a Yankee run me through with his sword. Now, that one was where a piece

imed both boys, impressed at sight of the scar

e bes' of 'em," he said

f all the "Millindys" in the world were being summone

eserters, now," t

calmly up and down

at's all. Th' ain' gwine ketch no deserters any whar in all these parts, an' you kin tell 'em so. I'm gwine down thar an'

with you?" as

es,-mons'us bad; an' I's gwine cut through the woods an' see ef I can't pick up a squ'rr'l, gwine

concerned. "We'll get mamma to come and s

old. Here, y' all take these squ'rr'ls," he said, taking the squirrels from his old game-bag and tos

ou," and he strolled off with his gun in the bend of his

came in sight. The boys stepped to one side of the road to wait for them, eager to tell the important information they had received from their friend, that there were no deserters i

called the officer in the

ing; that the squirrels had been give

unting for

carelessly, while one or two men p

is direction at all," said the boy

know?" asked

gentleman

n? What g

ho met us a li

ago? Who

who he was,"

ur snack," put in Will

t? What sort of man was he?" eag

friend, impressed by the intense in

ir of gray breeches and an old pair of shoes, and

n," added Willy, "and he said he bel

He's a deserter himself,

e. "He is a mighty brave soldier, and he's been home on a f

ht or to-morrow morning; and he's got another wound in his side where

w all this?" as

ust now-a little while ag

an la

lf, that's been doing all the devilment about he

s shoulder," declared t

t's what I know him by. Which way d

the woods; and it's been so

mistake; but they could not prevent their sympathy fr

d he wheeled his horse about and dashed back up the road at a great pace, followed by his men. The boys

. This man has broken bread with us; we cannot give him up. I

rgument not t

s blowing again a regular "toot-toot" for "Millindy." It stru

ition to their ride, and some of them were inclined to say that the boys had never seen any man at a

was very scornful because the boys