The boys turned in at their old road, and made their way into Holetown. Their guns were loaded with large slugs, and they felt the ardor of battle thrill them as they marched along down the narrow roadway. They were trudging on when they were hailed by name from behind. Turning, they saw their friend Tim Mills, coming along at the same slouching gait in which he always walked. His old single-barrel gun was thrown across his arm, and he looked a little rustier than on the day he had shared their lunch. The boys held a little whispered conversation, and decided on a treaty of friendship. "Good-mornin'," he said, on coming up to them. "How's your ma?" "Good-morning. She's right well." "What y' all doin'? Huntin' d'serters agin?" he asked. "Yes. Come on and help us catch them." "No; I can't do that--exactly;--but I tell you what I _can_ do. I can tell you whar one is!" The boys' faces glowed. "All right!" "Let me see," he began, reflectively, chewing a stick. "Does y' all know Billy Johnson?" The boys did not know him. "You _sure_ you don't know him? He's a tall, long fellow, 'bout forty years old, and breshes his hair mighty slick; got a big nose, and a gap-tooth, and a mustache. He lives down in the lower neighborhood." Even after this description the boys failed to recognize him. "Well, he's the feller. I can tell you right whar he is, this minute. He did me a mean trick, an' I'm gwine to give him up. Come along." "What did he do to you?" inquired the boys, as they followed him down the road. "Why--he--; but 't's no use to be rakin' it up agin. You know he always passes hisself off as one o' the conscrip'-guards,--that's his dodge. Like as not, that's what he's gwine try and put off on y' all now; but don't you let him fool you." "We're not going to," said the boys. "He rigs hisself up in a uniform--jes' like as not he stole it, too,--an' goes roun' foolin' people, meckin' out he's such a soldier. If he fools with me, I'm gwine to finish him!" Here Tim gripped his gun fiercely. The boys promised not to be fooled by the wily Johnson. All they asked was to have him pointed out to them. "Don't you let him put up any game on you 'bout bein' a conscrip'-guard hisself," continued their friend. "No, indeed we won't. We are obliged to you for telling us." "He ain't so very fur from here. He's mighty tecken up with John Hall's gal, and is tryin' to meck out like he's Gen'l Lee hisself, an' she ain't got no mo' sense than to b'lieve him." "Why, we heard, Mr. Mills, she was going to marry _you_." "Oh, no, _I_ ain't a good enough soldier for her; she wants to marry _Gen'l Lee_." The boys laughed at his dry tone. As they walked along they consulted how the capture should be made.