"I've seen to that," he explained. "Here's a whole wad of Confederate currency which will pay your expenses through the Southern lines." And with that he began to deal out the bills to the men, who hastily stowed away the money in their own pockets. "Now, boys," went on the leader, "I want you to divide yourselves into parties of three or four, so that you may travel in separate groups, and thus avoid the suspicion which might be aroused if you all went in a body. And remember! One party must have nothing to do with another." Thereupon, in the gloomy woods, the future spies formed themselves, as their inclinations directed, into six parties or detachments, four containing three men each, and two containing four. Andrews was to proceed southward alone, without an escort. Poor George Knight and Waggie appeared to be left out in the cold. George was burning to join the expedition. Even the rain which suddenly began to fall could not quench his ardor. "Mr. Andrews," he said, coming up close to the leader, and speaking in a whisper, "can't I go to Marietta, too?" Andrews peered at the boy in admiring surprise. "By Jove," he answered, "you're not afraid of danger, even if you are little more than a child. It's bad enough for grown men to risk their lives--and bad enough for me to drag them into such a position,--without getting a plucky boy into the scrape also. No! Don't ask me to do that." "But I won't be in any more danger in the South than I am here," pleaded George. "If I stay here I may be shot in battle, while if I go to Marietta I----" "If you go to Marietta, and are found out, you may be hanged as a spy," interrupted Andrews. "I'd rather see you shot than strung up with a rope." "The Confederates would never hang me if I am little more than a child, as you call me," urged the lad. Andrews was evidently impressed by George's persistence, but he hastened to say: "Anyway, I have no authority to send you off on this chase. You are a member of General Mitchell's military household, and he alone could give you the permission." "Then promise me that if I get his permission you will let me go." The spy hesitated. He could just discern the earnest, pleading expression in the upturned face of the boy, upon which the rain-drops were pouring almost unnoticed. "Well," he said, at last, "I am going back to camp now, and I start out before daylight. If you can induce the General to let you accompany us before that time I'll make no objection." George gave a little exclamation of delight. "Come," he said, snapping his fingers at Waggie, "let us see what we can do to talk the old General into it." The rain was now coming down in torrents, while the sharp, almost deafening cracks of thunder sounded as if the whole artillery of the Union army were engaged in practice. Soon all the conspirators were hurrying back to camp. Andrews was the very last to leave the woods where he had divulged his plans.