Instantly the negro halted, and even in the dim light his terror was manifest to the young soldier.
"No, suh! No, suh! I isn't Sambo. I'se Long John."
"Is there anybody with you?"
"No, suh! No, suh! I'se all alone."
Confident that he might rely upon the statement, Noel instantly returned to the corduroy road and approached the waiting black man. To Noel the eyes of the startled negro seemed almost to protrude like saucers. For an instant it was plain that he was tempted to flee from the spot, but as he glanced behind him, Noel suspected that he was in greater fear of what threatened from that direction than he was at the discovery of the strangers who had hailed him.
"Who's yo'? Who is yo' all?" he asked, unable to prevent his teeth from chattering as he spoke.
"We are a couple of Union soldiers, Long John, and we want your help."
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh! Bress de Lor'! I'se heerd a heap 'bout yo' all. Dey say yo' hab hawns. Ole mass' done say dat yo' be'rd com' clar down to heer." As he spoke the negro placed one of his big hands upon his right hip. "Dey shorely is so feared o' yo' dat if dey heer yo' name er hundred miles away, dey's scared des' de same."