Unionist and Confederate were now less than fifty feet apart, and the rain was coming down furiously upon both. Two steps more and Louis was close to the shelter of the tree. He listened intently. The man by the bushes made no sound; Harry’s footsteps were some distance away. Something had attracted his attention at the other end of his beat and he remained there. It must be acknowledged that Louis’s heart now beat like a trip-hammer. He felt it his duty to challenge the man, and, if his answer was not satisfactory, and he tried to escape, to shoot him on the spot. On the other hand, he knew that a single word from his lips might be the signal for a shot from the unknown, who would then make a rush for the woods on the opposite side of the little clearing. He was not certain, but he imagined he saw the gleam of a pistol in the right hand of the fellow as he turned from the rock. Stepping behind the tree for an instant, Louis examined his gun, to see that all was in perfect order for firing. He shuddered as he tried the trigger. In a moment more he might be taking a human life. Again he stepped forth, but partly behind a bush in front of the oak. He opened his lips to shout out the word halt when he made a most startling discovery. The man had disappeared. In vain he strained his eyes, in this direction, that direction, and beyond. It was useless. The fellow was not at the rock, nor on the ground near the pool, nor was he at the fringe of brush to which he had turned. He was as completely gone as though the earth had opened and swallowed him up. Louis was dumbstruck. What in the world had become of the man? He clutched his gun in nervous perplexity. Had the man made a silent but rapid rush and passed the line? No, such a thing was impossible. He must still be in front. The young soldier heard Harry returning now and resolved on a new course of action. Waiting for his friend to reach the oak, he caught him by the arm and clapped his hand over his mouth. “Harry, listen, but don’t make any noise,” he whispered into the other’s ear. “There is a man out there, near the pool. I saw him crawling along a moment ago, but he has now disappeared. Tell the guard next to you, and I’ll tell Callings, and we’ll round him up.” Harry understood and nodded. Then struck by a sudden idea, he exclaimed aloud: “I ain’t got any tobacco. Ask Callings for his plug.” “And you ask Risby,” answered Louis, catching the cue, and speaking just as loudly, and then they separated, but each kept an eye on the vicinity of the oak, that the man who had disappeared might not try to break through the picket guard at that point. “A reb, eh?” whispered Callings, when Louis had called him up. “All right, I’ll help you. Wait till I’ve called the next man to overlook the road. Send the word back, too, Louis; it’s ag’in orders to try to do too much without letting the officer of the guard know.”