A little further conversation revealed the fact that the boy alluded to was none other than our friend Sam Hardwicke. General Jackson hesitated, expressing some doubts of Sam's qualifications for so delicate a task. He feared that so young a person might lack the coolness and discretion necessary, and said so. To all of this Tandy replied:-- "You'd trust the job to me, if I could walk, wouldn't you, giner'l?" "Certainly; no other man would be half so good." "Well then, giner'l, lem me tell you, that Sam Hardwicke is Tandy Walker, spun harder an' finer, made out'n better wool, doubled an' twisted, and _mighty keerfully waxed_ into the bargain. He's a smart one, if there ever was one. He's edicated too, an' knows books like a school teacher. He's the sharpest feller in the woods I ever seed, an' he's got jist a little the keenest scent for the right thing to do in a tight place that you ever seed in man or boy. Better'n all, he never loses that cool head o' his'n no matter what happens." "That is a hearty recommendation, certainly," said the general. "Suppose you send young Hardwicke to me; of course nothing must be said of all this." "Certainly giner'l. Nobody ever gits any news out'n my talk." And with that Tandy made his awkward bow, his awkwarder salute, and limped away. CHAPTER V. SAM LAYS HIS PLANS. Half an hour later Sam Hardwicke entered General Jackson's private office, and was received with some little surprise upon the commander's part. "Why, you're the young man who reported in command of some young recruits, are you not?" he asked. Sam replied that he was. "I didn't understand it so," replied Jackson, "when Walker recommended you for this service. However, it is all the better so, because _I_ know your devotion, and Tandy has assured me of your competence. Sit down, our talk is likely to be a long one." When Sam was comfortably seated, with his hat "hung up on the floor," as Tandy Walker would have said, the general resumed. "You understand of course," he said, "that whatever I say to you, must be kept a profound secret, now and hereafter, whether you go on the expedition I have in mind or not." "You may depend upon my discretion, sir. I think I know how to be silent."