‘I hev, sir,’ answered Ephraim. ‘But if I tell ye the truth ye’ll maybe not b’leeve me.’ ‘Say your say, and we shall see,’ returned the other; ‘but I seriously advise you not to attempt to put me off with any cock-and-bull story.’ ‘Waal,’ began Ephraim, ‘I ’low I might bluff ye by tellin’ ye thet I’d got thet despatch across the lines, fer I reckon thet’s the idee thet’s makin’ ye oncomfortable; but if I’d got thet fur with it, I wouldn’t hev been sech a born fool ez to come back jest fer the pleasure er bein’ hung. The plain truth is, I don’t know whar it is any more than ye do yerself.’ ‘Do you mean that you have lost it?’ ‘Nuthin’ less. I had it hyar in this pouch jest before thet rumpus with the sergeant at the end of the ditch, and I reckon it must hev fell out somewhar thar.’ Ephraim did honestly believe this to be the case. ‘If you had had an accomplice, it would have been a simple matter to pass the paper on to him,’ said the provost-marshal, regarding him doubtfully. ‘Ye may be easy on thet score,’ replied Ephraim firmly. ‘I got hold er the despatch by myself without the help er any one. I carried it in this pouch, ez I war tellin’ ye, and I know thet I had it jest before the row began. Maybe it’s lyin’ around loose on the ground somewhar thar. I’m tellin’ ye the truth and no lies,’ he added earnestly. ‘B’leeve me or not, thet’s my last word.’ The provost-marshal rose to his feet, ‘Captain Hopkins,’ he said, ‘return to your quarters. I will send for you when I require you.’ Then as the captain went out: ‘Corporal, place this man under guard. Afterwards take your men and return to the spot where you arrested this spy. Make a thorough search of the ground in the vicinity. If you find the despatch, bring it at once to me. If not, come back here with the prisoner at dawn.’ ‘Very good, sir,’ answered the corporal.—‘What shall I do about the man’s wound, sir?’ ‘Oh, thet’s nuthin’,’ put in Ephraim. ‘I don’t know it’s thar sence ye tied it up.’ ‘The sentry can be told to send for a surgeon if it becomes necessary during the night,’ said the provost-marshal. ‘Remove the prisoner.’ The corporal retired with Ephraim, whom he immediately conducted to an empty tent, before the door of which he set a sentry. Then he unslung his canteen and laid it down on the ground beside the prisoner, and a moment later forced a great handful of biscuit upon him. ‘There,’ he said good-naturedly, ‘you won’t starve now, and if your shoulder troubles you, hail the sentry and he’ll send for a surgeon. I’ve told him.’ ’Tain’t wuth it fer all the time I’ll know I’ve got an arm,’ said Ephraim gloomily. ‘Oh, maybe it’ll not be so bad as that. If we find the despatch, you may get off I don’t say you will; but I hope so, for I like your pluck in standing up to a giant like Sergeant Mason.’ ‘I’m obleeged ter ye,’ said Ephraim more heartily. ‘I hadn’t looked fer so much kindness from a Yank.’