"The moon is shining brightly. You can easily examine my face and uniform. But perhaps you prefer to examine these?" said Hayward, drawing his revolver with one hand and his sword with the other.
"Precisely!" was the reply, "unless you pass examination first."
"Well, sir, as I don't intend to submit myself to any such process, we will commence with these at once. Forward, boys!" shouted Hayward, turning to his own party, "here are a set of d——d home guards!"
Hayward was well satisfied that the party was no other than a portion of Price's army, and his rough allusion to the "home guards" was intended to impress them with the fact that he and his party were also of the rebel army. The ruse succeeded. As the remainder of Hayward's party were approaching, with drawn swords, the officer in command of the other squad, said:
"Don't trouble them. I think we are all cut from the same piece of cloth."
"Then you are not what I suppose?" asked Hayward.
"We are of the confederate army, and have just come from camp."
"Indeed! then you need not fear us!" said Hayward, laughing. "That is, if you will give a good account of yourselves. Halt, boys, don't annihilate them."
The leader of the twenty joined in the laugh, as he saw the remaining five approach.
"Oh! Lord! massa," said the negro as he approached, "don't—don't—if dem's home guards we will be—"