Meanwhile from the parts of the conversation which he overheard, he was convinced that the visitor was a soldier in the Confederate army. CHAPTER XIII FRIENDS OF THE UNION Noel's excitement gave place to alarm as he listened to the conversation in which the two men were engaged. The lack of his uniform prevented him from trying to leave his room, and as yet he was uncertain whether or not the visitor even was aware that a young soldier of the Union was in the house. For a time Noel listened intently, striving to discover something which would give him the information he desired; but the words of the visitor, whose part in the conversation was much greater than that of his tall host, did not imply that he was suspicious. There were moments when snatches of the conversation almost convinced Noel that the man was a spy. It was plain that he was more or less familiar with the conditions existing in the Union army, but how he had obtained such detailed information was something the listening young soldier was unable to explain. "Where is McClellan now?" inquired Jim. "Up near Frederick City." "What's he doin' there?" "What has he been doin' ever since he has been made commander?" laughed the visitor. "He's waitin', that's what he is, and if he keeps it up a little longer he won't have any more waitin' to do." "Why not?" "Because our army will snap him up between its jaws. I reckon there weren't many men in the whole army of General Lee who thought it was a good thing to divide his forces as he did when he sent McLaws and Walker after Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry. Why, man alive, Lee split his army right in two, and then put a good bit of distance between the two parts! If McClellan knew enough about it, and if he is very much of a general he would know, he would throw his whole force against either of these divisions and smash it to pieces, before the other could come to its help. As it is, he's still tryin' to make up his mind, I reckon, and the result is that he's goin' to be caught between these two divisions just like a mouse is caught between the jaws of a cat. We have got him just as shore as you are born." "I don't believe it," said Jim slowly. "It doesn't make any difference whether you believe it or not, that's what's going to happen," laughed the visitor. "Now you say that Stuart's cavalry has been thrown out in such a way that little Mac can't get any information about what Lee's plans are?" "That's true enough, and yet, if McClellan had even a few men like those that are gettin' information for General Lee, he ought to know about it."