"I mean dat animal what we spell c-o-w. How yo' all done say dat name?"
Noel laughingly pronounced the word, and instantly his dusky companion was satisfied with the claim which the young soldier had made.
"Yas, suh. Yo' all sho'ly is er Yankee. What I cain't understan', suh, is what yo' all is doin' yere. The nearest place war dey is any Union sojers is Frederick."
"How far is that from here?"
"Not so very far, but I reckon hit's too far away fo' yo' all toe try fo' toe git dere to-night. De sojers is scourin' de country an'—"
"Do you mean Stuart's cavalry?"
"Yas, suh, and some mo' men besides dem. Hit's gittin' dreadfully hard toe find yo' way in times like dese."
"Where are you going now?" suddenly Noel inquired.
"I'se goin' toe take yo' all toe Aunt Katie's an'—"
The young negro hesitated and again searchingly looked at his companion.