“No, sir, I did not,” said Joe.
“I declare that is too funny!” exclaimed Miss Carter, laughing merrily, and then she went on to describe the chase as she saw it. The young man smiled as though he thought it was all a joke, and that night he called up Harbert, and offered him a dollar in Confederate money if he would tell the truth about the matter. Harbert told him the truth, but it was so unpleasant that the young man forgot all about the money, although a dollar at that time was worth not more than twelve and a half cents.
Miss Carter seemed to be almost as proud of Jonah’s performance as Joe was, and this made the lad feel very proud and happy. But, as they were going home, an incident happened which, for the time, and for some days afterward, drove all thoughts of Jonah and fox-hunting out of his mind. The hunters went back the way they had come, and shortly after they entered the public road they met a small procession that turned out to be very interesting, especially to Joe. First, there was a spring wagon, drawn by one horse and driven by a negro. On the seat with the negro, and securely fastened with ropes, was Mr. John Pruitt, the deserter. Behind the negro and Mr. Pruitt were two soldiers with guns, and three soldiers mounted on horses, and armed, acted as escort. The young officers who had been hunting with Joe Maxwell stopped the wagon and made inquiries until they had satisfied their curiosity. Joe would have spoken to Mr. Pruitt, but the latter, by an almost imperceptible movement of the head, seemed to forbid it. His face was as serene as if he had been on dress parade. As the wagon was about to move on, he spoke:
“Ain’t that the young chap that works in the printin’-office down by Phoenix school-house?” he asked, nodding his head toward Joe, without looking at him.
“Yes,” said one of the young officers.
“Well, sir,” said Mr. Pruitt, drawing a long breath, “I wish you’d please tell him to be so good ez to git word to my wife down in the Yarberry settlement that I won’t have a chance to come home in a week or more, an’ she’ll hafter do the best she kin tell I git back.”
Joe said he would be glad to do so.
“I ’low’d he would,” said Mr. Pruitt, still speaking to the young officer; “an’ I’m mighty much erbliged.”
Then the little procession moved on toward Hillsborough, and the hunters went homeward. Miss Nellie Carter was very much interested.
“He doesn’t look a bit like a deserter,” she said, impulsively, “and I’m sure there’s some mistake. I don’t believe a deserter could hold his head up.”