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〃Let me go with you； master；〃 Dan said； with the tears streaming
down his cheeks。 〃I would rather be killed with you a hundred
times than get on without you。〃
〃I would take you if I could； Dan； but this is a service that I must
do alone。 Good…by； my boy； let us hope that in three or four days
at the outside I shall be back here again safe and sound。〃
He wrung Dan's hand； and then started at a canter and kept on at
that pace until he reached Richmond。 A train with stores was
starting for the south in a few minutes； General Lee's order enabled
Vincent to have a horse…box attached at once； and he was soon
speeding on his way。 He alighted at Burksville Junction； and there
purchased some rough clothes for himself and some
country…fashioned saddlery for his horse。 Then； after changing his
clothes at an inn and putting the fresh saddlery on his horse； he
started。
It was getting late in the afternoon； but he rode on by unfrequented
roads； stopping occasionally to inquire if any of the Federal
cavalry had been seen in the neighborhood； and at last stopped for
the night at a little village inn。 As soon as it was daybreak he
resumed his journey。 He had purchased at Burksville some
colored calico and articles of female clothing； and fastened the
parcel to the back of his saddle。 As he rode forward now he heard
constant tales of the passing of parties of the enemy's cavalry； but
he was fortunate enough to get well round to the rear of the
Federal lines before he encountered any of them。 Then he came
suddenly upon a troop。
〃Where are you going to； and where have you come from？〃
〃Our farm is a mile away from Union Grove；〃 he said； 〃and I have
been over to Sussex Courthouse to buy some things for my
mother。〃
〃Let me see what you have got there；〃 the officer said。 〃You are
rebels to a man here； and there's no trusting any of you。〃
Vincent unfastened the parcel and opened it。 The officer laughed。
〃Well； we won't confiscate them as contraband of war。〃
So saying he set spurs to his horse and galloped on with his troop。
Vincent rode on to Union Grove； and then taking a road at random
kept on till he reached a small farmhouse。 He knocked at the door；
and a woman came out。
〃Mother；〃 he said； 〃can you put me up for a couple of days？ I am a
stranger here； and all the villages are full of soldiers。〃
The woman looked at him doubtfully。
〃What are you doing here？〃 she asked at last。 〃This ain't a time for
strangers； besides a young fellow like you ought to be ashamed to
show yourself when you ought to be over there with Lee。 My boys
are both there and my husband。 You ought to be ashamed of
yourself； a strong…looking young fellow like you； to be riding about
instead of fighting the Yankees。 Go along！ you will get no shelter
here。 I would scorn to have such as you inside my doors。〃
〃Perhaps I have been fighting there；〃 Vincent said significantly。
〃But one can't be always fighting； and there are other things to do
sometimes。 For instance； to find out what the Yankees are doing
and what are their plans。〃
〃Is that so？〃 the woman asked doubtfully。
〃That is so；〃 he answered earnestly。 〃I am an officer in Wade
Hampton's cavalry； and； now Sheridan's troopers have cut off all
communication； I have come out to find for General Lee where the
Yankees are building their batteries before Petersburg。〃
〃In that case you are welcome；〃 the woman said。 〃Come straight
in。 I will lead your horse out and fasten him up in the bush； and
give him a feed there。 It will never do to put him in the stable； the
Yankees come in and out and they'd take him off sharp enough if
their eyes fell on him。 I think you will be safe enough even if they
do come。 They will take you for a son of mine； and if they ask any
questions I will answer them sharp enough。〃
〃I wonder they have left you a feed of corn；〃 Vincent said； when
the woman returned after taking away his horse。
〃It's no thanks to them；〃 she answered； 〃they have cleared out
everything that they could lay their hands on。 But I have been
expecting it for months； and； as I have had nothing to do since my
man and boys went away； I have been digging a great pit in the
wood over there； and have buried most all my corn； and have
salted my pigs down and buried them in barrels； so they didn't find
much。 They took the old horse and two cows； but I hope the old
horse will fall down the first time they uses him； and the cow meat
will choke them as eats it。 Now； is there anything as I can do to
help you？〃
〃I want a basket with some eggs and chickens or vegetables to take
into their camp to sell； but I am afraid I have not much chance of
getting them。〃
〃I can help you there too；〃 the woman said。 〃I turned all my
chickens into the wood the day I heard the Yankees had landed。
They have got rather wild like； but I go out and give them some
corn every evening。 I expect if we look about we shall find some
nests； indeed I know there are one or two of them sitting。 So if
you will come out with me we can soon knock down five or six of
the creatures； and maybe get a score or two of eggs。 As for
vegetables； a horde of locusts couldn't have stripped the country
cleaner than they have done。〃
They went out into the wood。 Six hens were soon killed； and
hunting about they discovered several nests and gathered about
three dozen eggs。 Vincent aided in plucking the chickens and they
then returned to the house。
〃You had best take a bite before you go；〃 she said。
It's noon now； and you said you started at daybreak。 Always get a
meal when you can； say I。〃
She produced a loaf and some bacon from a little cupboard hidden
by her bed； and Vincent； who； now he thought of it； was feeling
hungry； made a hearty meal。
〃I will pay you for these chickens and eggs at once；〃 he said。
〃There is no saying whether I shall come back again。〃
〃I will not say no to your paying for the chickens and eggs；〃 she
said； 〃because money is scarce enough； and I may have long to
wait before my man and the boys come back； but as to lodging and
food I would not touch a cent。 You are welcome to all I have when
it's for the good cause。〃 Vincent started with the basket on his arm；
and after walking three miles came upon the Federal camps。
Some of the regiments were already under canvas； others were still
bivouacked in the open air； as the store…ships carrying the heavy
baggage had not yet arrived。 The generals and their staffs had
taken up their quarters in the villages。 Vincent had received
accurate instructions from his hostess as to the position of the
various villages； and avoided them carefully； for he did not want to
sell out his stock immediately。 He had indeed stowed two of the
fowls away in his pocket so that in case any one insisted upon
buying up all his stock he could place these in his basket and sti