The young soldier was not yet altogether convinced that his companion was to be relied upon. His experience with Long John had made him suspicious of the blacks. Throughout his boyhood he had never seen a colored man, and it had not been long before the time of his enlistment when he had beheld one for the first time. The action of the powerful young negro with whom he was journeying, however, in a measure relieved his fears, and his plight was so desperate that he was aware that he must trust somebody for help. Night would soon be at hand and in the darkness his perils might be greatly increased. At last, when a quarter of a mile or more had been covered by Noel and his companion, the young soldier stopped, and said, "What's your name?" "Nigger Sam." "Did you ever hear of Long John?" "Yas, suh!" replied Sam, glancing suspiciously at his companion as he spoke. "What fo' yo' ask 'bout Long John?" "I saw him back yonder." "What fo' yo' see him?" "Why, he led me into a trap. I thought I could trust him, but he took me along a corduroy road to the very place where a lot of the rebel soldiers were stationed." "Yas, suh! Yas, suh!" said Sam, manifestly relieved. "Dat's des' what Long John is er doin'. He's playing tricks on the Yankee soldiers all de time. Little Ben Fowler des' used him lak I use de decoy when I shoots ducks." "How do I know you are not another one like Long John?" "Because I'se a Yankee." "You're a what?" demanded Noel. "I'se workin' wif de Yankees. I des' made up my mind dey was de bes' friends what I got. When a lot ob men leave home and come 'way off down yere jes' toe set de niggers free, I done make up my min' dat I'd des' do all I could fo' 'em." "Where are you going now?" "I reckon I'm goin' toe tote you toe Aunt Katie's." "You know I'm a Union soldier, don't you?" "I reckon I does. Leastwise I suspected so when I first heerd yo' talk. If yo' all will tell me how yo' says de word ob dat animal what gibes milk, den I'll sho'ly know." "What do you mean?" inquired Noel sharply. "I mean dat animal what we spell c-o-w. How yo' all done say dat name?" Noel laughingly pronounced the word, and instantly his dusky companion was satisfied with the claim which the young soldier had made. "Yas, suh. Yo' all sho'ly is er Yankee. What I cain't understan', suh, is what yo' all is doin' yere. The nearest place war dey is any Union sojers is Frederick." "How far is that from here?" "Not so very far, but I reckon hit's too far away fo' yo' all toe try fo' toe git dere to-night. De sojers is scourin' de country an'--" "Do you mean Stuart's cavalry?" "Yas, suh, and some mo' men besides dem. Hit's gittin' dreadfully hard toe find yo' way in times like dese." "Where are you going now?" suddenly Noel inquired. "I'se goin' toe take yo' all toe Aunt Katie's an'--" The young negro hesitated and again searchingly looked at his companion. "What's the trouble?" inquired Noel quickly. "Are you afraid of me?"