“Well, you can’t git there this way,” he said, his tone changed a little; “the bridge is down, on this road and nobody don’t travel it much now—you’ll have to go back to Old Brick Church and take the other road. There’s a new bridge on that road, but it’s sort o’ rickety since these freshes, and you have to take to the old ford again. One of Hiram’s and Jonadab’s jobs,” he explained, with a note of hostility in his voice. Then, in a more friendly tone, he added: “The water’s up still from last night’s rain, and the ford ain’t the best no time, so you better not try it unless you have somebody as knows it to set you right. I would go myself, but—” He hesitated, a little embarrassed—and the Major at once protested.
“No, indeed! Just tell me where is Old Brick Church.”
“That fork back yonder where you turned is what’s called Old Brick Church,” said the man; “that’s where it used to stand.”
“What has become of the church?”
“Pulled down during the war.”
“Why don’t they rebuild it?” asked the Major, a little testily over the man’s manner.
“Well, I s’pose they think it’s cheaper to leave it down,” said the man, dryly.
“Is there any place where we could spend the night?” the Major asked, with a glance up at the sunset sky.
“Oh, Hiram Still, he’s got a big house. He’ll take you in, if he gits a chance,” he said, half grimly.