"How far is Aunt Katie's from here?"
"Not so very far," again responded the negro. "But I des' cain't lose de time."
"Where did you come from?" abruptly inquired Noel.
"I des' came from down de road a spell."
"And you say you're going to Frederick City to report to General Burnside?"
"No, suh. No, suh. I didn't say any such thing," replied Sam with a grin. "I des' said that I mought see him."
"I believe you're taking word to him from some one down in this part of Maryland."
Sam grinned, but made no reply.
The practice of using the blacks as spies or as means of obtaining information was more prevalent than the young soldier was aware. Some of the black men were keenly intelligent, and their stealthiness enabled them to avoid many dangers to which the white soldiers were often exposed. It was plain, too, that Nigger Sam, as he called himself, was thoroughly familiar with the region; and he had said and done enough to cause his companion to suspect that the purpose of his journey was more than had appeared upon the surface.
Conversation ceased when the journey was resumed. Weary as Noel was by the experiences of the day, it was with difficulty that he was able to keep up with his companion, who swiftly led the way through the field and across the occasional swamps.