‘Ef I war to go runnin’ fer the camp every time thar war a skeer ter-day, I’d never be done,’ answered Ephraim. ‘My post is hyar, and hyar I mean tew stay. What’s this yew want tew tell me?’ ‘Simply this,’ replied the captain. ‘Mind now, hold your tongue. I am the bearer of despatches from General Shields to General Frémont.’ Ephraim’s face was a study. He shouldered arms at once, and gasped out: ‘What! Then why in thunder didn’t yew say so before?’ ‘For very good reasons,’ smiled the captain. ‘Come, now, I’ve put off time enough already. My boat is waiting there, and’—— Down came Ephraim’s rifle to the charge again. ‘Boat!’ he echoed. ‘Yew hev a boat?’ ‘Certainly,’ said the captain. ‘You didn’t suppose I was going to walk across the river, did you?’ ‘Back with yew!’ cried Ephraim, feinting to lunge. ‘Good land! yew nearly fooled me, Mister Secesh. So yew thort yew war going tew git in yewr boat ez easy ez that, and jine yewr friends the Rebs.’ ‘Frankly,’ said the captain, ‘your idea of duty is an extreme one; but I suppose, in these days of slipshod soldiers, you ought to be commended for it. Look here,’ he unbuttoned his coat, ‘I’ll show you the despatch, and may be that will convince you.’ He pulled out a large envelope, sealed, and addressed to General Frémont. ‘There,’ he said. ‘Now, are you satisfied?’ With a sudden, unexpected movement, Ephraim snatched the packet, cast it to the ground, and set his foot upon it. ‘Keep off!’ he cried, as the captain made a rush to recover his precious document. ‘Another step, and yew’re a dead man. Yew must think me green, ef yew ’magine I couldn’t see through that game. Why, any one could write Frémont’s name outside an envelope. I’ll bet a trifle thar’s things in that yew wouldn’t keer fer Frémont tew see, all the same.’ ‘Give me my letter!’ shouted the enraged officer. ‘It’s my letter now, and yew’re my prisoner. I’ll give it and yew up tergether when the grand rounds come.’ Captain Hopkins changed his tone again. ‘I never knew such a fellow as you,’ he said. ‘You mean well; but you have no idea what an amount of valuable time you are wasting. I swear to you I am not a rebel spy, but what I told you—the bearer of a despatch to General Frémont. As a last resource, if you will let me go, I will return to the camp, and bring back some one who will identify me. Will that do?’ Ephraim appeared to meditate. Finally he said: ‘How am I tew know yew ain’t fooling me? I might ez well have a prisoner, naow I’ve got one.’ ‘You have only my word for it, of course,’ said the captain. ‘Oh, waal, I guess I’ll trust yew,’ answered Ephraim after another pause. ‘Off with yew, and come back ez soon ez yew kin git. I’ll keep the despatch safe.’ The captain needed no second telling, but turned and ran. Ephraim hailed him when he had gone a little way. ‘Well,’ demanded the captain, turning round, and fearful of a bullet, by way of a keepsake, from this very officious sentry. ‘What is it?’