"No, sir, I don't."
"Do you know what they will do with me?"
"I reckon I might suspect, sir. There have been a right sma't lot of Yanks who have had free transpo'tation to Richmond. I reckon there will be some mo', and it may be yo' will have a chance to ride along with them, sir. It won't cost you a cent, sir. No, sir, not one cent."
"Do you belong to Stuart's cavalry?" asked Noel.
"I wonder what's the matter with the Yanks. They seem to be so full of questions that the minute one of them opens his mouth they begin to pop out the way corn pops in a popper."
Noel abruptly ceased his questioning, but, as he glanced once more about the quarters, suddenly a scheme suggested itself to him, by which he might be able to escape from his captors. If the plan was to be tried, he must act at once, he decided, and, striving not to arouse the suspicions of the guard, he slowly arose.
CHAPTER XV
WARLIKE BEES
Slowly, and striving to appear indifferent, although he was keenly observant of every action of his guard, Noel began to pace back and forth behind the row of horses. He was well aware that, in spite of the apparent carelessness of his guard, he was watching his every action. Any attempt on the part of the young prisoner to escape would at once bring a shot from the soldier.