"Your cause is ours, Harry. But come, it is time to continue our journey. It will be daylight before we reach our destination." As they approached the spot where the horses were tied, they saw the negro standing erect, and Nettleton giving him advice which was as follows: "Now look a here, 'Swasey's nigger,' you are a mean feller any how, and ain't much account no way. But, don't go and make a sneak of yourself by being such a milksop of a coward. Cos why? You see, I hit you on the head, and I thought you was killed. I didn't care much, no way, kase you're such a mean soldier, any way. But just behave yourself, and don't be a sneak any more, and I'll let ye live; but if you show the white feather, as captain calls it, you will find out that the captain's body-guard don't have any turn-tails about _him_; no, sir, Mr. Darkey!" "I won't be coward no more, Massa Nettleton. Golly, don't I wish dis chile was brabe like you. But, ye see, Massa Nettleton, when dis chile gets in de woods, and de rebels are aroun', it makes his har stan' on end." "Well, don't you do it no more, or I make _you_ stand on end!" "William Nettleton," called the captain. "Yes, sir! want the horses?" "Yes, William." As the party mounted, and prepared to depart, Captain Hayward said: "Why, William, you informed me that you had killed that gentleman of color. I see he is alive, and apparently unhurt." "Why ye see, captain, his skull is so thick, it ain't so easily cracked. But, if you'll only just examine his skull, you'll find a lump there big enough for a breastwork." "Do you think it has improved his condition?" "I guess it knocked some of the fear out of his woolly top-piece, and if I have occasion to hit him again, I bet it will knock it all out." "George, what are you afraid of?" asked Hayward, speaking to the negro. "I'se most afeerd of Cap'n Nettleton, massa," replied the negro, as he opened his mouth and grinned. "Did he hurt you very much?" "Considerable much, massa cap'n. Golly, I thought the gun crack de skull, sure." "But you are not afraid of the rebels, are you, George?" "Not when I'se good way off!" "Captain," said the adjutant, "we shall have trouble with this fellow. Had we not better send him back?" "Perhaps it would be the best course." "Oh! massa cap'n, don't send dis chile back alone. De rebels catch him, sure. And den, O Lord golly, dey whip me to strings, _sure_!" "So they would. The best thing you can do is to keep quiet. We shall conceal our horses when we arrive within a few miles of the camp, and you must remain with them. If you do so, you will be safe, but if you attempt to return alone, you will be caught and whipped to death." "Oh! golly! massa, dis chile will do just what massa cap'n tell him. But is ye gwan to lebe dis chile all stark, staring, breving alone?" "All alone, George, and your only safety will be in keeping perfectly quiet so that you will not be discovered." "Can't Massa Nettleton stay?"