"Hallo, there!" shouted one of the troopers savagely, as though he intended to carry consternation in the tones of his voice. "How are you, old hoss?" inquired De Banyan, as impudently as though he had been the lord of the manor. "What ye doin' in here?" demanded the horseman, as he forced his animal into the bushes far enough to obtain a full view of both of the fugitives. "Well, old hoss, if Heaven gin you two eyes, what were they gin to ye fur?" replied the captain, still hacking away at the sapling. "What d'ye run for when you saw us coming?" "Didn't run." "Yes, yer did." "You know best, then." "What d'ye come in here fur?" "Don't ye see what I came in here for?" replied De Banyan, as he finished cutting off the bush, and proceeded to trim off the branches. "Who are you?" "Well, old hoss, I'm the brother of my father's oldest son." "What's yer name?" "Hain't got any; had a difficulty with the district attorney in our county, and lost it." "Come out here, and show yerself. The cap'n wants to see yer down to the road." "Just goin' down there. Say, you hain't got a spare hoss in your caravan, have you? I'm gettin' amazin' tired." "Come out, both of you. I can't stay here all day." "Needn't wait for me; I'm in no hurry," answered the captain, as he slowly emerged from the bushes, followed by Somers. "But I shall wait for yer; and, if yer don't step along lively, I'll let yer know how this cheese-knife feels." "Don't distress yourself to do anything of the sort," said De Banyan; and he hobbled along on his new-made cane. A walk of a few rods brought them to the road, where the commander of the company was impatiently awaiting their arrival. He looked daggers at the travelers, and evidently intended to annihilate them by the fierceness of his visage. "Give an account of yourself," said he. "We're no account," replied De Banyan. "I've seen you before," continued the cavalry commander, gazing intently at the captain. "No; you saw me behind." "That sounds like you. Why, really, it is Barney Marvel." "Who?" demanded De Banyan with an expression of humor. "Barney Marvel! Don't you know your own name? Give us your hand, Barney," added the officer, as he extended his own. "Well, cap'n, perhaps I'm Barney what's-his-name; but, 'pon my word, I don't think I am;" and De Banyan wore a troubled expression, even to the eyes of his anxious companion. "Don't be modest about it, Barney. You left us rather unceremoniously; but I hope you'll be able to show that it was all right." "'Pon my word it was all right, though I haven't the least idea what you mean." "Haven't you, indeed, Barney?" laughed the captain, who, in spite of his present happy manner, was evidently as much puzzled as the other party. "'Pon my word, I haven't." "Do you mean to say you are not Barney Marvel, formerly a lieutenant in the Third Tennessee?" "Not if I know it." "I suppose I understood your position, Barney; but I advise you not to deny facts."