"Shoot me!" exclaimed Percy, evidently appalled at the bare possibility of such an event. "I reckon they won't do that," added the soldier. "This is my father's plantation, and my mother is in the house," continued Percy. "She can stay there: we shall not meddle with her." "But you are going to take me away from her." "You look like a stout young fellow, and you ought to be able to get along for a while without your mother," chuckled the sergeant. "You belong in the army; and I reckon you will have to go back to it, in spite of your mother." "I don't belong to the army," protested Percy. "Well, they call you a deserter, anyhow." Percy seemed to be overcome by this statement, and Christy thought there was something more of his story than he had told on board of the Bellevite. It was possible, after all, that Major Pierson was not as much of a brute as be had appeared to be. But, if his companion was a deserter, he certainly did not come under that head himself, and he could not understand why he had been arrested. "I suppose you don't claim me as a deserter, do you?" asked Christy good-naturedly. "I don't think they do," replied the sergeant, as pleasantly as he had spoken himself. "Then, why do you arrest me?" "My orders were to arrest any person with Mr. Pierson; and that is all I know about your case, and I am very sorry to give you any annoyance. Things are a little mixed, and I hope they will soon get them levelled down. If you don't object, we will march." "I suppose you will march all the same, if I do object," added Christy. "I was not aware that it was a crime here to be in the company of that young man." "I reckon I was ordered to arrest you as a matter of precaution; and I dare say they will let you return as soon as we report to the major," said the sergeant, leading his prisoner through the gateway. The other men took Percy by the arm; and, after they had closed the gate, they followed the road for a considerable distance, and then struck across the fields. Not far ahead, Christy saw many lights; and he concluded that this must be the location of the mansion of Colonel Pierson, the father of Percy, and for some reason best known to himself, the sergeant desired to avoid going very near it. A march of a short distance farther across the field brought them to a road, which they followed till they came to a wagon drawn by two horses. The animals were hitched at the side of the road, and no one seemed to be in charge of the team. But the sergeant halted his party at this point; and, leaving the prisoners in charge of his men, he went to the wagon. "Major Pierson," said he; but no answer came to his question, and he repeated it with no better success. Then he mounted the seat in front of the wagon, and looked over into the body of it. Then he reached over; and a moment later the form of a man was seen to rise from a quantity of hay which filled the body. "Is that you, Spottswood?" demanded the rising form.