"Very well. I was his 2d Lieutenant in the 4th Mo. Cavalry, my present regiment. We left New York for St. Louis, and entered this regiment together, in August, 1861. Unfortunately, however, we were soon separated; for Captain Nott and his company were transferred to the 5th Iowa Cavalry, and I have not seen him since. It was a bitter disappointment to me, and I have never fairly got over it." "Then you are really Union soldiers? I'm sure you are." "How could you doubt it?" I asked. "You see we wear the United States uniform." "That is not always conclusive, Captain. It was only the other day, that a force of rebel cavalry, disguised in blue coats, surprised and routed a detachment of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry, in this very place. I never heard such horrid yelling in my life. They acted like demons. Since then, we are obliged to be very cautious." Here Mrs. Hurt excused herself, and, stepping to the door, directed Tom to call his master. Returning, she continued: "I must apologize, Captain, for deceiving you as to my husband's whereabouts. You see the difficulties of our situation. He will be here presently. His stock usually stray no farther than the nearest corn-field." Smiling at her explanation of what at first looked to me very much like a _white_ lie, I observed, that I fully appreciated the dangers attending life in a country raided over alternately by each of two hostile parties; and that I well understood why, at first, I believed myself in a "secesh" house. "I presume," I continued, "you have not seen Captain Nott's little book, describing his visit here, and his adventures in these parts?" "Oh, yes. And what is more, it is in a safe place. We hide it away, for fear it might get soiled." She undoubtedly knew it would not be quite safe to let the "Johnnies" find it. Mr. Hurt now appeared, just as we were sitting down to dinner. Several of my officers had come in. "Husband, these are the friends of Captain Nott. I have explained your absence." "I am delighted to see you, gentlemen; tell me all about the Captain. We have entirely lost track of him." "The last news we had of him, he was a prisoner at Camp Ford, Texas. He was Colonel of the 176th New York Infantry. There is a rumor that he died in prison, but we do not credit it." "I hope it is only a rumor. I never met a man, in my whole life, for whom I formed so strong an attachment. And if ever I find out where he is, I will visit him, if it takes me to China. I never saw an officer who had such remarkable control over his men. At the same time they seemed to idolize him."