"By the grace of God, I am well, and I hope you enjoy the same blessing," was his answer. "You are mighty good, a'n't you? You are a soldier, I suppose." "No, gentlemen, I am not a soldier. By the providence of God, I am a preacher of the Gospel pure." "Look here, daddy; don't you know that this country is invaded? Over there lies the Federal army, and yonder the Confederate army. What business have you to be prowling about between the lines of the two contending armies?" "I have got a Federal pass," said he, handing me one signed by General Ross, "and I have taken the oath. I have no connection with the Confederate army." "Well, daddy, you don't look like a man with a clear conscience; we must search you." We proceeded to search him, which resulted in finding, in a leg of his pantaloons, between the outside and lining, a map eighteen inches by twenty-two, representing exactly our fortifications, intrenchments, camp, and picket line at Bolivar. It was skillfully executed, and was as accurate as it could well be made. Our discovery of the map took away the old man's sanctimonious dignity. "This is one of your sermons, I suppose!" I remarked, as I drew out the map. "A fine subject for a minister of the Gospel!" He dropped his head and made no reply. "Now, daddy, you look tired; you get into the buggy and ride." So the old man got in. "Now, boys, take the rope from the mule's neck and put it on the old man's neck." So they changed places with the rope. By this time the man looked terribly frightened, and as white as a ghost. "One of you that is good at climbing mount that tree." There was a limb from the tree where the old man had been sitting, that extended out over the road where we had halted the buggy. To this the rope was made fast. Every thing being ready, I said, "Daddy, you are in a hurry to get to Canaan, and we are in a hurry to get to camp, so good day, sir." Our mule then gave a desperate plunge, leaving him to travel his journey alone to that place where, by the grace of God, he'll have no use for maps of Federal fortifications. I carried the map to General Ross, and related to him the circumstances of its capture. "Did you bring the man in?" he inquired. "No, sir; we have brought in several disloyal characters, and they have all managed to get released; for that reason we thought it not worth while." "You let him go, did you?" "Yes, we let him go--_by the jerk_!" General Ross sent the map to General Grant, then at Jackson, Tenn., accompanied with the particulars of its capture. CHAPTER IX Sent to Somerville--Finds himself a prisoner--Taken to Cold Water--Meets with old acquaintances--Is paroled--Runs with the 2d Arkansas Cavalry--Goes to Lumpkins' Mills--Interview with General Price--Stays all night with his brother, the rebel General--Return to Bolivar--Reports to General Ross--"Steals the Colonel's horse," and returns to the enemy--Runs away from the enemy.