"And wouldn't that land us right in the heart of the rebel territory?"
"I suppose it would."
"And how do you expect to steer clear of the enemy? Why, they'll gobble us up in no time."
Walter drew a long breath. "All right, Si, you can stay here if you wish. I intend to try my luck."
"Don't git mad, Walter; I'm only lookin' at the worst side on it," burst out the Yankee lad, hastily. "Of course I'll go along," he added after a pause. "Ain't nothing else to do."
So the talk ran on until nearly midnight. Then they heaped more wood on the fire and turned in, which was not saying much, since, as Si put it, "they hadn't no bunks nowhere." Yet they slept soundly until far into the next morning.
When they sprang up the sun was shining brightly and the storm was a thing of the past. All the birds were singing gayly, and this helped to put them in good humor. The fire had died low, and after a consultation they allowed it to go out, since it was doubtful if they could carry any along with safety.
A brief and scanty breakfast, washed down with a last drink from the spring, and they made certain
