"We're not going to," said the boys.
"He rigs hisself up in a uniform—jes' like as not he stole it, too,—an' goes roun' foolin' people, meckin' out he's such a soldier. If he fools with me, I'm gwine to finish him!" Here Tim gripped his gun fiercely.
The boys promised not to be fooled by the wily Johnson. All they asked was to have him pointed out to them.
"Don't you let him put up any game on you 'bout bein' a conscrip'-guard hisself," continued their friend.
"No, indeed we won't. We are obliged to you for telling us."
"He ain't so very fur from here. He's mighty tecken up with John Hall's gal, and is tryin' to meck out like he's Gen'l Lee hisself, an' she ain't got no mo' sense than to b'lieve him."
"Why, we heard, Mr. Mills, she was going to marry you."
"Oh, no, I ain't a good enough soldier for her; she wants to marry Gen'l Lee."
The boys laughed at his dry tone.
As they walked along they consulted how the capture should be made.