"Hello, boys, what luck?" called the officer in the lead, in a friendly manner.
They told him they had not shot anything; that the squirrels had been given to them; and then both boys inquired:
"You all hunting for deserters?"
"You seen any?" asked the leader, carelessly, while one or two men pressed their horses forward eagerly.
"No, th' ain't any deserters in this direction at all," said the boys, with conviction in their manner.
"How do you know?" asked the officer.
"'Cause a gentleman told us so."
"Who? When? What gentleman?"
"A gentleman who met us a little while ago."
"How long ago? Who was he?"