I reach a wide public road running east and west, Hoof-prints cover the road—­hoof-prints going west; our cavalry; I almost shout and weep for joy.  The cavalry will certainly detect Lee’s movement.  That is, if they go far enough west.

Again the dull booming of cannon in the far southeast.  What does it mean?  It means, I know it, I feel certain of it, it means that Lee is preventing Meade’s retreat by deceiving him.  Those guns are only to deceive.

On the wide public road I turn eastward—­straight down the road.  Other cavalry may be coming or going.

The road turns sharply toward the northeast.  I cease to follow it.  I go straight eastward, hoping to shorten the way and find the road beyond the hill.  What is that I see through the trees?  It looks like a man.  It is a man, and in blue uniform.  From mere habit I cock my rifle and hold it at the ready.  I cannot see that he is armed.  I go straight to him.  He is lying on the ground, with his back toward me.  He hears me.  He rises to his feet.  He is unarmed.  He is greatly astonished, but is silent.

“What are you doing here?”

“I surrender,” he says.

“Very well, then,” I say; “guide me at once to the nearest body of your men.”

He opens wide eyes.  He says, “All right, if that’s your game.”

He leads me in a southerly direction, takes a road toward the west, and goes on.  Suddenly he says, “You are coming over to us?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me have the gun,” he says.

I do not reply at once.  Why does he want the gun?  Is it in order to claim that he has captured me?  If so, my information will not be believed; it may be thought intended to mislead.  Then again, it is not impossible that this man is a deserter; if that be the case, he wants to march me back to the rebels, just as I am marching him back to the Union army.  He may be a Confederate spy.  I shall not give him the gun.  But I will make him talk.

“What do you want with the gun?”

“Oh, never mind.  Keep your gun; it don’t make any difference,” he says.

He keeps on, going more rapidly than before.  We go up hill and down hill, hardly changing direction.

Suddenly he says, without looking back at me, “Say, Johnny, what made you quit?”

“My mind changed,” I say.

He looks back at me; I can see contempt in his face.  He says, “I wouldn’t say that, if I was you.”

“Why not, since it is true?”

“It will do you no good.”

“But why?”

“True men don’t change their minds.  But it’s all one to me.  Do as you please.”

He is right, I think.  Nobody will believe me if I speak the whole truth.

I say no more.  Soon we see cavalry.  We walk straight to them.  Their leader speaks to my companion.  “Thomas, you seem to have done a good job.  How did you happen to get him?”

“I didn’t get him.  He got me.  He says he has come over.”