"Oh," with a quick glance toward me. "That is easily explained; we turned the corner of the bluff instead. This is the old road to Jonesboro, and has been used very little since the new road was opened. I chose it because I thought I would be less likely to meet with any chance travellers." I began to comprehend more clearly where we were. The extreme right of the position held by our army would be, at least, ten miles east, and the Confederate left scarcely nearer. Beauregard was off in here somewhere,--at Bird's Ferry according to our camp reports the evening previous. This knowledge prompted me to ask, "Which way is the river?" "To the right about three miles." "And Bird's Ferry?" I could not be certain she smiled, yet I thought so. "Yonder," pointing. "The river curves to the south, and this road comes down to it at Jonesboro; there is a bridge there. The ferry is fifteen miles farther up." The apparent innocence of her answer completely disarmed me. Indeed these facts were exactly as I remembered them now that I had our present position in mind. The peculiar winding course of the river would leave me nearer our lines at Jonesboro than where we then were. Indeed foraging parties were covering much of the territory between, and it was the nearest point where I could cross the stream otherwise than by swimming. "Are you going to Jonesboro?" I asked. She nodded silently. "Then may I ride that far with you?" I asked, rather doubtful of what she would say to such a request. "Of course you will be aiding the enemy, for I expect to discover some of our troops in that neighborhood." "How can I help myself?" banteringly. "You are a man, and armed. Practically I am your prisoner." "Oh, I don't want you to feel that way toward me. I have acted as a gentleman, have I not, ever since I understood?" "You certainly have, and I am not ungrateful. Then you do not order me to take you; you merely ask if I will?" "That is all." "And that sounds so much better, I think. I don't mind your being a Yankee if you continue to act that way. Shall I drive?" "If you will; you know the road, and the tricks of the pony." She laughed again, gathering up the reins, and reaching down after the whip. At the first movement the little animal broke into a brisk trot as though he understood his driver. CHAPTER IV THE COMING OF DAWN