Harry had a pocket-knife, very old and worn, and this he was allowed to keep. Jack had a dozen fish-hooks in his pocket and three or four yards of line, in addition to eight or ten dollars in rebel shinplasters. The shin-plasters and fish-hooks were appropriated by the searchers, and also the line, the captain remarking that they could buy more line when they got home. The pieces of corn-bread which they had in their pockets were left to them, along with the pocket-knife, and then they were told they might go.
Jack protested against the loss of his fish-hooks, but he did not continue the protest very long. Then Harry assumed the role of questioner, and asked about the roads leading to the northwest, and was particularly anxious to ascertain if any Home Guards had been seen in that direction. He described the lost horses minutely, and asked the captain to send word to James Pratt at Forsyth in case he found out where the horses were.
With this parting request he mounted his steed, thankful that it was left to him, and Harry followed his example. It was fortunate for the youths that the scouting party were all well mounted and their horses were fresh, as they would have been quite likely to ask for an exchange, and make it, too, without waiting to ascertain if an exchange was desired by the parties of the second part.
“They're pretty searching in their investigations,” said Harry, as soon as they were out of sight and hearing. “It was lucky we had no dispatches about our hats or boots.”
“Yes, indeed,” responded Jack. “Wonder what the next party 'll do? Perhaps they 'll make us take off our clothes and see if we have n't something written on our skins.”
“That's a good idea,” said Harry. “I 'll suggest it to General Vandever the next time he wants to send a courier through the enemy's country.”
“I have it,” exclaimed Jack. “Why not put a dispatch under a porous or some other plaster between a fellow's shoulders? Nobody would think of disturbing it.”
“Don't be so sure of that,” was the reply. “The plaster is an old trick of diamond smugglers; it has been successfully used, and it has also been detected. It might work on these country jayhawkers, but anybody of experience is sure to have heard of it.”