"How should I know?" demanded the peddler irritably. "I sells to der vimmin."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"Yes. You come. It vill interest der vimmins. You come mit me and I vill go on mit you and show you der way to Frederick City."
Noel was unarmed, but he saw no reason to doubt the words of his companion. If the place was deserted by the men he would be in no danger, and, on the other hand, he might be able to obtain some food, even if the women were sympathizers with the Southern cause. He was aware that from many such people the sight of a man clad in the uniform of the Union army was not likely to bring a cordial response. On the other hand, he was unknown, and it might be that he could obtain food and supplies that would help him through the day. He was confident that if he went much farther on his way, he might have experiences that would compel him to remain in hiding part of the time.
Slowly the two young men approached the great house. The house itself was not so large, but the expression was one which was applied to many homes, perhaps to distinguish the dwelling-place of the master from the quarters of the negroes.
As he drew near, Noel saw in the rear of the house the quarters of the servants. There were little huts that had been whitewashed, and about the place were several little pickaninnies, whose presence indicated that some of the blacks at least were at home.
The approach of the boys was apparently unobserved, and even when they followed the winding pathway toward the rear of the house no one greeted them.
Suddenly, however, Noel stopped, and looked in consternation at the sight before him. Tied to the hitching-rail in the rear of the house he saw a half-dozen horses.
Every horse was saddled and bridled, and in an instant Noel was aware that he had come upon a small band of cavalry.
Startled as he was by his discovery he instantly stopped and, after listening intently, turned back over the road which he and Levi had come. As he did so, Levi suddenly dropped his pack and seizing the young soldier by his coat began to shout in his loudest tones.