"All right," laughed Noel, who was convinced now that in no event should he have to fear his colored companion. The house had been safely passed and the negro apparently was inoffensive and harmless. Noel was still watchful for the appearance of any of Stuart's men, for whom he entertained a feeling of most wholesome respect. "What's your name?" he asked again as he turned to his companion. "Yas, suh! Yas, suh!" replied the negro. "My name's Nick." "Are you related to 'Nicodemus, a slave, of African birth,' and did you call your friends to 'meet you down by the swamp and wake you up for the great jubilee'?" The young soldier was speaking in apparent seriousness and his companion stopped abruptly and stared at the man who had asked him these strange questions. "No, suh," he said. "I never kno' nuthin' 'bout no swamp. Wha's dat yo' all is tellin' 'bout anyway?" In a low voice Noel began to sing the song which was familiar even in his far-away home on the St. Lawrence,-- "Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth, And he died years ago very old. Wake me up was his plea--" "Yas, suh," said the negro, "but it's not dis yere Nick. Dat's some oder Nick. I know milliums of darkies named Nick." "Nick," demanded Noel abruptly, "do you know any men around here who are friends of the Union?" "Yas, suh. I sho'ly does," replied the negro, so promptly that the young soldier at once decided that he might rely upon his friendship. "Are any of the men at home now?" "Yas, suh. Yas, suh. Massa Hilton, back yonder; I reckon he mought be er Union man." "Is your master?" "Yas, suh. Massa Hilton's brother Sam, he's fo' de South. I reckon it almost comes to blows when dey talks about de war." "Isn't either of them in the army?" "Yas, suh; Massa Sam Hilton, he's in de 'fed'ate a'my." "But this Mr. Hilton who lives back in the house we passed, he's not a soldier, you say?" "No, suh. No, suh." "You're sure he's a good friend of the Union men?" "He sho'ly am." "Then I'm going back there," said Noel, stopping as he spoke and turning abruptly about. Nick in surprise also stopped and looked at his companion. "Is yo' all a Union sojer?" "I am, and I want to go where I can find somebody who will be good to me for a day or two. You say you're sure Mr. Hilton will be glad to see me?" "I can't jes' say as how he will be glad to see yo'," replied the negro, shaking his head slowly. "But you said he would," interrupted Noel. "No, suh; 'scuse me. What I done say was dat he would be good to yo'. I don' know as Massa Hilton will be _glad_ to see a Union sojer des' now." "Why not?" "Dar's some special reasons what I don't recomember," replied Nick, speaking in such a manner that Noel's suspicions again were aroused. "But you say he's a Union man?" "Yas, suh. Yas, suh, he sure am." "Why won't he be glad to see me?"