"A good man," said Nick.
"Nick," I said, "I want to go up the road."
"W'at fur you gwine up de road, mahsa?"
"I want to see some people up there."
Nick did not reply. Could he fear that I was wanting to take him into the Southern lines? It looked so.
The thought almost took away any fear I yet had that he might betray me. His hesitation was assuring.
I repeated, "I want to see--I mean I want to look at--some people up the road."
"Dem sojers went up the road des' now, mahsa."
"Do you think they will come back soon?"
"I dunno, mahsa; maybe dey will en' maybe dey won't."