"Naw. I reckon nothin' what would be interestin' to yo' all," said Jim. "Hey!" exclaimed Sairy Ann suddenly. "Here comes the Jew peddler. He was here day before yesterday. I told him then I didn't want anything, and I don't see what for he comes around here pestering us again." Noel looked up quickly as she spoke, and saw the peddler standing in the doorway of the kitchen. Instantly he recognized the trader as Levi Kadoff, the sutler whose experiences in the camp had been of such a trying nature that he had departed with many threats for the mischievous soldiers who had tormented him. He was positive that the peddler also recognized him, although not a word was spoken by either. Entering the room, Levi whiningly begged the woman to make some purchases. "I don't want nothin'," declared Sairy Ann. "I told yo' so yesterday and day befo' when yo' were here. Yo' ought to take better care of yo'self than to be here where there's so many soldiers so near. Suppose yo' got caught right in the middle of the fight?" "Dere vill be no fight," said Levi positively. "How do yo' know there won't?" "Because dere vill not be any." "But how do yo' know?" protested the woman. "Dot is vat der men says." "What men?" "All kinds of men. Now, please, mine goot voman, let me show you vat fine spectacles that I have?" "What do you mean by that?" demanded Sairy Ann, abruptly rising from her seat and facing the little peddler. "Yo' ain't gettin' personal, be ye? What makes yo' think I need glasses?" "Spectacles is all der styles now. I sells more glasses to young vimmins than I do to der old vimmins." Appeased by the explanation, the hostess resumed her seat, and a few minutes later, when the little Jew displayed certain ribbons in his wares, Sairy Ann hesitated and was lost, much to the disgust of the elongated Jim. She invested some "real Yankee money" in several strips of bright yellow ribbon, doubtless selecting this particular color because she fancied it would match both her hair and her eyes, for now Noel was aware that even her eyes shared in the tawny color of her hair and skin. By the time the trading was completed, Noel had finished his breakfast and was eager to be gone. He was desirous also of having some conversation with Levi, when later the little peddler, after one searching glance at the face of the young soldier, left the place and Noel abruptly decided to go with him. Thanking his hostess for her kindness in receiving and caring for him, he shook hands with her and her husband and taking his cap left the house. Calling to Levi to wait for him to join him, he soon was in the road where the sutler was standing. Advancing to his side, Noel prepared to accompany the little peddler on his way, a decision which within a short time he had cause deeply to regret. CHAPTER XIV THE SUTLER AS A GUIDE "Vat you do here?" inquired Levi suspiciously as the two departed down the road. "That's just what I was going to ask you."