"Madam," I replied, "I don't believe you could find it in your heart to injure me, and so I shall make a confidant of you, for I need your assistance. I am a United States soldier."
"There now," she said, in an excited tone, "I said you were a Yankee, and you told me, no. Oh! just think! what if some of our soldiers should step in; and a body never knows when to look for them. What did bring you so close to the camp? Why if they should catch you here they would kill you, and may be me, too; at least, they would take every thing I had in the world. Oh! if I had known you were a Yankee, I wouldn't have let you come in."
"Madam, I am no Yankee;" I answered, "I am a western man; I told you no lie."
"Oh, but you are the same thing; you know we call all your men Yankees; that is the only way we always speak of your men in our country."
"Well, madam, you help me to-night, and to-morrow I may be able to do you a favor."
"What do you want me to do?"' she asked.
"Why, all that I want now, is for you to tell me how to get over this river down here," pointing in the direction of the water.
"Why, bless your soul, that is no river; it's nothing but a mill pond. Where do you want to go?" she asked.
"I want to go to Columbia, or to the nearest camp of Sherman's army."