"Why not?"
"Dar's some special reasons what I don't recomember," replied Nick, speaking in such a manner that Noel's suspicions again were aroused.
"But you say he's a Union man?"
"Yas, suh. Yas, suh, he sure am."
"Why won't he be glad to see me?"
"I done tell yo', suh, des' now dat dere's all dis yere trouble what am goin' on. I reckon dey isn't nobody what's glad to have a sojer come to his house des' now."
"Oh, I see," said Noel slowly; "but if I do come he will take care of me for a day or two? Then I'm going back there. What have you got in your bundle, Nick?"
"Nothin' much. Des' some stuff what Massa Frost done tol' me fo' toe git at Massa Hilton's."
"Why do you call for it in the night? Why don't you go out in the daytime?"
"I'se feared some of the sojers mought see me if I start after sunup—"