Some one spoke to him as he came on. He did not hear the question, but he was conscious of returning an answer of some sort, though a moment afterwards he could not have told what he had said. He reached the coveted path between the two fires, and again a soldier who was reclining by one of them hailed him. ‘That yew, Dick?’ asked the man. ‘Why can’t yew keep still? I believe yew’re a funk.’ Lucius spared a thought to bless the restless Dick, and strode on. ‘Dick,’ said the man again, ‘did yew hear that?—Why, Dick! Look at him! By’—— For Lucius had passed beyond the line, and casting all idea of further concealment to the winds, leaped forward like a startled hare. In a moment all was bustle and confusion. The pickets sprang to arms, orders were shouted in rapid succession, and twenty men darted upon the track of the fugitive, while the advance sentries, hearing the commotion, stopped on their beat, eagerly waiting the explanation of the unusual disturbance, which, so far as they were concerned, seemed to come from the wrong quarter. The very energy of the pursuit saved Lucius; for sentries, pursuers, and pursued were all mixed up in one inextricable tangle in the darkness, and the noise the soldiers made in following him of itself prevented them from getting any clear idea of his whereabouts. On he dashed. Shots were fired here and there at random; but if any one was hit it was not Lucius, and in less than five minutes he plumped into the middle of a Confederate picket, under arms, and ready for an affair of outposts, if that were what the noise presaged. ‘I surrender! I surrender!’ panted Lucius. ‘Take me prisoner! Quick!’ ‘I reckon ef thet’s what ye’ve come fer, ye’ve got yer way,’ said a Confederate soldier gruffly, at the same time seizing him by the arm. ‘Air thar enny more er you uns on the road?’ ‘No,’ gasped Lucius; ‘there’s only me. Take me to the General. Quick! Oh, do be quick!’ ‘Take ye to the Ginrul! Thet’s good! Ho! ho!’ The men around broke into loud laughter; but an officer, coming up at that moment, sternly ordered silence, and raising a lantern to look at Lucius, demanded who he was, and what he meant by running into them like that. ‘I want to see the General,’ repeated Lucius, who just then could think of nothing else to say. ‘State your business to me,’ said the officer. ‘I will be the judge as to whether it is of sufficient importance to justify the granting of your request. Are you a deserter from the enemy? Do you bring news of his movements?’ ‘No—yes,’ replied Lucius hurriedly. ‘I mean I am not a deserter, but I bring important news,’ ‘If you are not a deserter, what do you mean by wearing that uniform? Explain yourself,’ ‘Captain,’ answered Lucius earnestly, ‘believe me, I am telling the truth. I found this uniform, and put it on to disguise myself. I have a despatch from General Shields to General Frémont, and I will give it to the General, if you will take me to him.’