"No, suh, I isn't 'fraid," grinned the negro. "Sho'ly not as long as I hab a frind lak dis wif me," he added as he drew from a pocket inside his coat a long narrow knife which was at least ten inches in length. "Dis yere," grinned Sam, "is one ob de bes' friends what I got." "What is it?" inquired Noel, extending his hand as he spoke. "No, suh. I don' let dis friend of mine eber go out ob my hands. Not eben fo' Gene'al Bu'nside." "Where is General Burnside?" asked Noel. "I reckon he isn't far 'way from Frederick City." "Are you going to see him?" demanded the young soldier, suddenly inspired by a new thought. "Well, suh, I cain't jes' say 'bout dat," replied Sam as he thrust his knife back into its receptacle. "I mought and then again I moughtn't." "I believe you're going there," said Noel sharply. "Dat's des' as may be," again responded Sam. "I mought and den I moughtn't. Now, we hab been talkin' here long er 'nuff. If we all is goin' toe get yo' toe Aunt Katie's we mus' be movin' along. I haven't much time to stay yere any longer." "How far is Aunt Katie's from here?" "Not so very far," again responded the negro. "But I des' cain't lose de time." "Where did you come from?" abruptly inquired Noel. "I des' came from down de road a spell." "And you say you're going to Frederick City to report to General Burnside?" "No, suh. No, suh. I didn't say any such thing," replied Sam with a grin. "I des' said that I mought see him." "I believe you're taking word to him from some one down in this part of Maryland." Sam grinned, but made no reply. The practice of using the blacks as spies or as means of obtaining information was more prevalent than the young soldier was aware. Some of the black men were keenly intelligent, and their stealthiness enabled them to avoid many dangers to which the white soldiers were often exposed. It was plain, too, that Nigger Sam, as he called himself, was thoroughly familiar with the region; and he had said and done enough to cause his companion to suspect that the purpose of his journey was more than had appeared upon the surface. Conversation ceased when the journey was resumed. Weary as Noel was by the experiences of the day, it was with difficulty that he was able to keep up with his companion, who swiftly led the way through the field and across the occasional swamps. The sun had disappeared from sight and darkness was creeping over the land when at last Noel and his black guide arrived on the border of a long stretch of woods. "Yo' all stay right yere, suh," said Sam, "while I done go toe see if Aunt Katie will take yo' in fo' de night." "I don't want to stop at Aunt Katie's," declared Noel. "I want to go with you. I'm sure you're on your way to Frederick City--" "Hush!" said Sam sternly. "Yo' all don't know who may be hidin' in dese yere trees." The negro spoke in a whisper, but it was manifest to his companion that his fears had been aroused and perhaps not without reason.