CHAPTER XX.
A SUSPICIOUS OCCURRENCE.
hen Sam had finished his despatch he quietly aroused Bob Sharp and Sidney Russell, and entered into conversation with them.
"Sid," he said, "I have a prisoner and a despatch of very great importance to send to General Jackson. You must take the despatch and leave as soon as possible, with the prisoner, who is a deserter and who must be got away from here before daylight. Bob, I want you to give Sid as good directions as you can, as you've been over the route twice."
"Yes an' I've sort o' blazed it too, and picked out all sorts o' land-marks to steer by, but I don't knows I can make any body else understand 'em. Are you in a big hurry with the despatch?"
"Yes, the biggest kind. It's of the utmost importance, and time is every thing. A single hour lost may lose Mobile or a battle."
"Then maybe Sid an' me'd both better go,—Sid to do the fast running an' me to show him the way."