“Who comes there?”

The stranger, instead of replying, instantly threw himself on the ground behind the fence, out of sight.

“Gott in himmel, major,” exclaimed the disappointed captain, “I pelieve it’s better you shoots that man—­purty quick we all gets ketched again;” and as he said this the captain, who, although a very brave man on the field of battle, was very much opposed to fighting an invisible enemy, drew himself behind a tree, as if fully expecting to see a whole army of rebels rush out of their concealments upon them.

“Be quiet, captain,” said the major.  “You have grown very suspicious lately.”  Then, raising his voice, he called out:  “Whoever you are behind that fence, whether a friend or an enemy to the Union, come out immediately, or you are a dead man.”

A deep silence, which lasted for several seconds, followed his words.  Then came the ominous click of half a dozen gun-locks, which, in the stillness of the night, could be heard a long distance.

The stranger evidently heard it too, for, without further hesitation, he arose from behind the fence, and came forward.

The major allowed him to approach within a few yards, and then ordered him to halt, and inquired: 

“Now, sir! who and what are you?  Tell the truth, for you have desperate men to deal with.”

“From your language,” answered the stranger, in a voice so soft that it was almost feminine, but which, nevertheless, betrayed not the slightest trepidation, “I should judge that you are escaped prisoners; if so, permit me to make one of your number.  If not, you will find me as desperate as yourselves; for I have suffered too much in prison to ever allow myself to be taken back alive;” and, as he spoke, he displayed a brace of pistols, which showed that he meant what he said.

“Gott in himmel!” exclaimed the captain, springing out from behind his tree, and forgetting, in a moment, all his suspicions, “vos you captured, too?  We been mighty glad to see you, any how.”

“Yes,” answered the man, “I have been a prisoner for twenty-two months, and it was not until three weeks since that I succeeded in making my escape.”

“We’ll take your story for what it is worth, at present,” said the major, “for we can not stop to talk.  We must first make some arrangements about obtaining something to eat, and then we must be off.”

“My haversack has just been replenished,” said the stranger, “and we have sufficient to last us for a day or two, at least.”

“Well, let us be moving, then.”

The major, as usual, led the way, and Frank walked beside the stranger, who firmly, but respectfully, repelled every attempt he made to enter into conversation, a circumstance which Frank regarded with suspicion.