"They are merely the instructions previously given, with a trifling difference. We are to reach the camp of Price by noon to-morrow, or to-day, as I see it is after twelve o'clock," replied Hayward. "When we arrive within a mile of the outer pickets, we must conceal our horses, and leave the darkey to watch them. I shall walk boldly into the camp, and report myself to Price as an officer and messenger just arrived from McIntosh's command. Our colonel was in the same regiment with him, the 10th regulars, before this war broke out, and has given me an exact description of his person and peculiarities. To throw Price off his guard, and to prevent his questioning me too closely, I shall repeat some of the peculiar expressions of Mac, which, of course, Price will at once recognise, and that, together with my secesh uniform, will settle matters. I am to tell some story which will induce him to make a stand here, or to advance upon us at Warsaw; or, at least, to give us battle at Springfield. I shall tell Price that it is the advice of McIntosh to meet Fremont on the Osage, if possible, and say that the reason of this advice is, that Mac is in communication with one Marshall, an officer high in rank in the federal army, and that Marshall tells him the exact position of our forces. Of course our numbers are to be greatly underrated. The federals, I shall say, profess to have thirty-five thousand men, _all_ anxious to fight, when in reality they have not more than twenty thousand, poorly armed, and mostly arrant cowards, who will run at the first discharge of the confederate guns. I shall tell Price that Mac has perfect confidence in the information received through his friend, and sent me forward at once to communicate with him. You must all remain concealed until I come to you. I shall remain in his camp until evening, get such information as I can with regard to his actual strength, and what he intends doing, and when the countersign for the night is given out, I shall manage to procure it, and then return to you. Our further plans we can then arrange." "But, if there should already be some of the officers from McIntosh's department, present, and should declare you did not belong there!" "It is not at all probable. Mac has not received any information at all." "But you know Price has sent spies into our camp, and if any of them should be present and recognise you?" "I must take the chances. If I do not return to you by eleven o'clock, you will know that I have been arrested." "If ye are arrested we will go in and lick the nasty chaw-tobacker skunks, and get you out," said Nettleton, who had approached just in time to hear the last sentence. "William, I told you to remain with the horses, did I not?" "I know you did, captain, but you see I had to come and report myself under arrest." "What have you been doing, William?" "I've killed the nigger!" "Not Swasey's nigger?" "Yes, I have!" "Why did you do that?"