"From Waco, on the Brazos river," was my reply.
"Ah! I have been there; were you acquainted with Dr. Tindsley?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir," I said; "he is president of the vigilance committee of McClennan county."
He then went on to ask a great many more questions about the county and the people, and finally became fully satisfied that I was all right, and a good soldier. He then took his leave, and in a few minutes the corporal and sergeant got through their business and departed. Bibb then told me that dinner had been waiting for some time, and that he thought the men would never get away.
"But," said he, "I never would have asked them to eat with me, if they had staid till to-morrow morning."
I swallowed a hearty meal, the reader may be sure, as I had not eaten since I left Fayetteville on Sunday morning, and this was Monday noon; and, after dinner, I started out for Decatur, still following the railroad. When I passed houses, it would be so far off that I was not noticed; and when a train passed, I would be standing behind something, so that those on board could not see me until they had passed, when it would be too late to either stop, or shoot, or do anything else. When I arrived at the first railroad bridge in the swamp, not far from the Y in the road, I came to the camp of the 2nd Tennessee. I walked in, unconcernedly, and called for Colonel Young, but was informed that he was over the river, at Decatur.
"Do you wish to see him, sir?" asked the Major.
"Yes, sir," I replied, "but I will call again; what time do you expect him back?"
"About ten o'clock, this evening," answered the Major.
"Then I will call to-morrow morning," I said, and turned to go away.