A wild hope flashed up in Si's mind.
"Lieutenant," he said, "we live right over there in Posey County. Can't you let us go home? We can make it, and be back here before to-morrow night."
"I don't know," said the Lieutenant doubtfully, as he mentally calculated the distance to Posey County. "I hadn't ought to let you go. Then, you can't have more than an hour or two at home."
"O,' goodness; just think o' havin' one hour at home," ejaculated Si.
"It seems too bad," continued the Lieutenant, moved by Si's earnestness, "to bring you this near, and not let you have a chance to see your folks.
"It'll be a risk for me, and there are not many men in the regiment I'd take it for, but I'll let you go.
"Remember, it'll make a whole lot of trouble for me if you're not here by to-morrow evening."
"We'll be here by to-morrow evening, if alive," he pledged himself.
"Well, then, go," said the Lieutenant.
Si's head fairly swam, and he and Shorty ran so fast to make sure of the train that there was a suspicion in the minds of some of the citizens that they were escaping from their officers.