"Jimmy? Well, Jimmy is a nice name," he said. Then he turned, and still held the boy's hand as he watched the little old negro, who stood with his head under the saddle-skirt, tiptoeing and straining in his effort to unfasten the girth. Finally, when he succeeded, he flung the saddle on the ground, and the horse, feeling relieved of his burden, first shook himself violently, and then expressed his comfort again and again in deep chest-tones. During all this time Jimmy's eyes had been fastened on the stranger's spurs, and a peculiar feeling of incredulity gradually filled his mind. Silver, indeed! He could not fool him! No one was rich enough to have real silver spurs! So sternly did he resent what he thought to be an attempt at deception that he drew his small brown hand slowly out of the stranger's gentle clasp. After slipping off the bridle from the horse's head and dropping it by the saddle, Uncle Jake led him away by his forelock to the stable, and Jimmy walked toward the inn with his guest, who said as they reached the steps: "Jimmy, we will sit here for a while, and then I will go over to the stable and see about my horse." As they sat down the old hound came cautiously down the steps, wheezing out a husky greeting. "She is too old to hurt any one," said Jimmy. "Is she yours?" "No, sir. Tip's mine. Listen!" he exclaimed, as the sharp yelp of a dog again broke the stillness. "That's Tip! He goes off and runs rabbits all by himself." "Perhaps he is after a fox." "No, sir; Tip won't run a fox." "Jimmy, can you tell from a dog's cry whether he is running a fox or a rabbit?" "No, sir." "Well, if he is trailing a rabbit he does not bark continually, but if he is after a fox he does; so you can always tell if you listen carefully." "Never heard about that before," replied Jimmy, with a smile. After this there followed a long pause, during which the stranger looked about inquiringly, then said: "Jimmy, how long have you been living here?" "Not very long. We refugeed over in North Carolina the first part of the war. Then we came back to Spottsylvania County while father was in prison. Why, we just came here after the s'render. You remember when Lee just had to s'render?" he asked, looking up into the stranger's face. [Illustration: "'YOU REMEMBER WHEN LEE JUST HAD TO S'RENDER?' ASKED JIMMY."] The boy's mouth, as usual, quivered as he uttered the word "s'render," but the man did not appear to see this. He seemed to be looking at a far-off mountain peak. After a pause he replied, "Yes, I remember," as he arose and started toward the stable. "I'll show you the way," said Jimmy. "Thank you, sir," he answered gravely. When they entered the stable the big gray horse greeted his master with some soft little nickerings. "Oh, he knows you without even looking!" exclaimed Jimmy, in tones expressing delight and surprise.