The civilian made another backward step. ‘Look here, sentry,’ he said, ‘this is getting beyond a joke. I tell you, I have important business, and I must pass. I’ve given you the word, and that gives me the right. Come, now,’ he wheedled; ‘don’t be obstinate.’ ‘And I’ve the right, and, what’s more, it’s my duty tew stop any one I consider a suspishus character, word or no word,’ replied Ephraim. ‘Yew come here, a soldier dressed up ez a civilian; yew gimme fust the wrong word, and then the right word; and then yew try tew git round me tew let yew pass. I say yew shan’t pass.’ The man started during Ephraim’s speech. ‘How do you know that I am a soldier?’ he asked. ‘By the set of yewr shoulders and yewr walk,’ replied Ephraim. ‘Any one could see ez much ez that.’ ‘Then, perhaps, you know who I am as well?’ ‘No, I don’t; but I guess I have a fairly good notion what yew air ez well.’ ‘And what may that be?’ ‘A spy,’ answered Ephraim gloomily. ‘I don’t know but what I orter run yew through whar yew stand ef I done right. But I’ll give yew one more chance. Quit, or take the consequences.’ ‘Look here,’ said the man suddenly. ‘I know you are only doing your duty according to your lights; but if you knew everything, you’d find you were rather exceeding it. I tell you what, I am all right. There’s nothing wrong about me. I don’t want a fuss, or to lose time. Here are ten dollars for your trouble. Now stand aside.’ ‘Thet’s enough!’ replied Ephraim. ‘Thet about sizes yew, I should say. Now, I’ll not only not let yew pass, but I’ll detain yew hyar till the rounds comes along. Yew’re my prisoner.’ The man looked this way and that, flushing and paling with rage. ‘You time-honoured thickhead!’ he cried at last. ‘I’ll tell you who I am, and then maybe you’ll alter your mind. I’m Captain Hopkins of the “—— Massachusetts.”’ ‘Ho!’ drawled Ephraim. ‘Fust yew’re a civilian, and then yew’re a soldier, and naow yew’re a capting. Waal, I han’t altered my mind. I guess ef yew kin bluff, why, so kin I.’ ‘Very much better than the captain can,’ thought Lucius in his hiding-place. ‘Let me pass, or take the consequences,’ cried the captain, and quick as thought he drew a revolver and presented it at Ephraim. Like lightning the glancing bayonet swept upwards, met the dull blue tube with a clank, and away went the captain’s weapon ten feet into the air behind Ephraim, splash into the river. ‘Yew see,’ drawled Ephraim. ‘I guess I didn’t come down in the last shower of green mud.’ ‘Confound you!’ said the captain, laughing in spite of his evident vexation. ‘You are too smart. I see that I shall have to tell you everything. Pay attention to what I say now, and hold your tongue about it when you get back to camp.—By the way,’ he broke off, ‘why didn’t you run in with the rest of them just now, when there was that scare?’