Noel's next effort was to tear away the straw which prevented him from obtaining a view of the field over which he had fled, and when he had succeeded in obtaining a peep-hole he saw that his fears were confirmed and that some of the men were approaching from the road. It was impossible for the troubled boy to know whether the approaching men were searching for him or were planning to pass his hiding-place without giving him any heed. The men were coming in an orderly manner, holding well together, and there were many things to make the excited young soldier hope that he was not the object of their search. Tremblingly he watched the men as they came nearer and nearer, and when at last a part of the body halted and began an inspection of the straw-stack in which he was hiding, his alarm became great. In the midst of these men he saw the little sutler, Levi, who was pointing excitedly, first, back toward the road from which they had come, and then toward the intervening distance between the place where he was standing and a house far away. In response to his appeals a hasty search of the straw-stack was made, the soldiers moving in opposite directions until they had encircled the place. An investigation then was made around the bottom of the pile, apparently no one thinking of looking to the top where the young soldier was concealed. It was evident that the men were in haste and in spite of Noel's fear he was hopeful that they would not remain long. His expectation was fulfilled, for, after the soldiers had circled the stack and some of their number had tried to discover any possible hiding-places around the base of the pile, the leader shouted, "Come on, boys! We must not waste any more time here. We shan't get to the Gap befo' every Yank has surrendered." Noel was afraid to lift his head far above the place where he was concealed. Nevertheless, when he heard the sounds of the hoofs of the departing horses, he did venture to look out on the scene before him. In a body the soldiers were speeding swiftly across the intervening field without once glancing behind them. So interested was Noel in the sight that the presence of the little sutler, for the moment, was forgotten. Levi was not with the soldiers, and when Noel once more drew down into his place of concealment his thoughts were chiefly concerned with the departing enemy. For a time the young soldier remained quietly in his hiding-place, peering out through the peep-hole he had formed between the straws. He was watching the road near the place where the little hut in which he had hidden was standing. All the time he was fearful of the coming of more men. His fears were not without foundation, for within a few minutes another band was seen approaching.