"No, sa'; dey ain't no use to have 'em dah."
Feeling confident that the movements I had seen indicated the withdrawal of at least some of the rebel outposts to their main line beyond the Warwick, and that I could easily and alone reach the river and follow it up--since the rebel line was on its other bank or beyond--I decided to let Nick go.
"Nick," said I; "I don't believe I shall need you any more now."
"You not a-gwine to gimme dat yudda dolla'?"
"Oh, yes; of course I shall pay you, especially if you will attend closely to what I tell you; you are to serve me till night, are you not?"
"Yassa."
"Well, I want you to go to the Union army at Newport News for me. Will you do it?"
"Yassa."
"Now, Nick, you must look sharp on the road and not let the rebels catch you."
"I sho' look sharp," said Nick.