He looked at me, as if wishing to test my seriousness; then he offered me his hand, and pressed mine heartily.

"Come into my tent," he said, shortly, and walked back ahead of me. Half an hour later, dressed like a true farmer's boy, and escorted through our lines by the general himself, I was proceeding towards the narrow road that ran into the wooded hills. Over my shoulder hung a canvas bag, containing two live hens and a dozen eggs. To the present day I do not know whence the clothes I wore were obtained: they lay waiting for me in the tent; but the hens and eggs were stock laboriously collected by the general's German servant to improve his scanty dinners, and I shall not easily forget the look poor Fred gave when he was ordered by the general to place his spolia opima in my sack. When the special history of the present war comes to be written, a memorial is certain for this German lad. When, a few weeks later, General Lyons fell in the field as a glorious example for his troops, he sank, with the cry, "Fred, I am going up!" into the arms of this faithful fellow, who never left his side, and drew his last breath on his bosom.

I turned into the path that led into the hills, as I said, and thought over the part which was allotted to me. I must give myself out as au enthusiastic Secessionist, who was making a long journey in order to offer the rebel general a little fresh fare. That I, as a young and powerful man, would not be let go again, but forced to enlist, was natural: hence it would be best for me to announce myself at once as a volunteer, and try to escape again during the night.

Although darkness had already set in, it could not be more than eight o'clock, and if the news the general had received was trustworthy, I must reach the enemy's camping-ground long before ten o'clock. The farther I went the clearer the night became. The wood often fell back on both sides for a long distance, and left space for cultivation. Here and there a farm-house emerged from the gloom, fireflies glistened all around me, but the warm air produced such an enfeebling effect on my nerves that I should have certainly fallen into a half-waking dream had not the consciousness of my dangerous enterprise aroused me with a jerk.

According to my watch I had been walking for a good hour: the country was more open, and now the path turned into a high road, on whose side the grass had been trodden down for many yards wide and trampled. Now I knew that I was on the right track. Cavalry had passed here, an arm of which our small army was almost ignorant, and it was only the thought of our artillery, which was served by veteran gunners, that removed the unpleasant feeling produced in me by this superiority on the part of the foe. I went on as if anxious only to reach my journey's end, for I might meet some one at any moment, in which case my external demeanour would be of great consequence. a few minutes the wood entirely retired, and a brick house, surrounded by densely foliaged fruit-trees, a garden with a neat paling and a wide extent of enclosed fields, became visible. A wooden piazza seemed to run round the house, and an open window could be distinguished between the broad-leaved creepers which had clambered up the gable end. In the midst of the verdure and silence it looked like an image of peace, so that I almost began to doubt the vicinity of the Secessionists, tales about

whose cruelty were current in our camp. I had involuntarily halted: at the same moment, however, a voice shouted to me no great distance off: "Stop, my fine fellow; I should like to know whither you are bound."

At the same moment one of those powerful men, who may be so often met in the interior of the land, leaped over the fence, with a rifle on his shoulder. I saw that the time had arrived to begin playing my part. "Have you any business in camp ?" he at length asked, with a look full of mistrust. "We hear that the Germans are only six miles from

here."

"I know it, sir," I nodded, as calmly as possible. "I even saw their outposts, but got out of their way, so as not to be examined."

"It seems to me, though, in spite of your fluent English, as if you were a German yourself," he replied, with a sharp glance.

"There may be something of the sort about my accent,” I replied, long prepared for the remark. "My grand-parents were German, and my mother could be recognised for German up to her death. But all that has nothing to do with the matter. I was born in Laclede county, when a boy was a good democrat, and now wish that all the republicans, Germans, Irish, or Americans, may go to the devil-that is all."

"And probably you now wish to join the governor's troops ?" he asked, with a cunning smile.

"That is the fact, sir," I replied, with decision, "if there is a gun left for me. I have brought with me all that was left on the farm-two fowls and a dozen eggs-for the governor or general; others may have done more, but I have nothing better to offer."

He still looked at me dubiously. "Well, sir, the descendants of Germans have generally the least talent for lying," he at length said, slowly. "There are many of them hereabout who are true friends of the South, and so I will believe you. In any case we are going the same road, and as I have examined you here, it will save you much talking on our arrival."

He threw his rifle over his shoulder, signed to me to follow, and then walked on by my side. I, however, regarded this meeting as a lucky omen for the execution of my design. Half legitimatised by this man, any special suspicion could hardly fall on me, and if I managed matters with decent cleverness, my retreat during the course of the night would not be very difficult.

"The governor seems to have plenty of cavalry with him," I commenced, after a short spell of silent marching, as if to begin a conversation, and pointed to the trampled grass.

"Perhaps you will like to know how many?" he said, with so peculiar an intonation that I turned round quickly and found myself once again face to face with my man.

1 66

Why not, if you can tell me?" I replied, calmly. not allowed ?"

"Is the question

"You seem to me to wear too fine shirts for a farmer's lad from Laclede," he replied, pointing with a sharp, distrustful laugh to my left sleeve, under which my shirt-cuff was visible, and it required all my possession for the moment not to display any embarrassment.

self

Still the

consciousness with which I had set out, that I could only gain my object by a bold course of lying, soon restored my coolness.

"Do you know," I said to him, as I pulled up my coat-sleeve and quietly turned back my shirt-cuff, "that I was disposed through your recent expressions to take you for a German-American too? I was mistaken, I see, for otherwise you must have known that most of the old German immigrants into the state were members of the respectable classes, and gave their children and grandchildren the best education in their power. I myself attended the college of St. Louis, and if I happen to be wearing a good shirt now, it is because I am used to it. My clothes are bad, but I did not wish to run the risk of having better ones torn off my back. However, I have nothing to do with you, but only with the general or the governor, to whom I am carrying my fowls and eggs."

I turned away with an angry movement and walked on, and my companion followed in silence.

"Well, sir," he said, after a while, "you may be right. I am myself of German origin."

"You say so, and that is sufficient," I replied, without checking my pace, "but I noticed nothing of it in your conduct to me."

From this moment we did not exchange another syllable, till at the expiration of about a quarter of an hour we reached a wide, treeless plateau, and saw the flashing of several fires at a short distance wonderfully blended with the moonlight. Fifty paces farther and a sturdy voice challenged us. "All right," my companion replied; and, with a sign to me to halt, walked up to the sentry, who had emerged from behind a bush. The couple only exchanged a few words, then I was summoned, and under the searching glance of the contender for Southern rights, who, in his ragged exterior, fully confirmed my previous notions, I followed by guide, who was rapidly advancing towards the fires. So soon as we were near enough to distinguish anything, all my senses passed into my eyes. I was able to survey the whole camp, and strove to form an idea of the probable strength of the foe; for, once inside the lines, I should probably find no opportunity of making an estimate, through fear of asking dangerous questions.

On my left I could plainly see between the camp-fires the lines of horses, whose neighing reached our ears, and all the arrangements taught me that the chief command was in thoroughly practised hands. The camp was considerably larger than ours, and a wild buzzing rose from it. I also noticed heavy guns flashing in the firelight-two pieces, however, were all I could discover, in spite of the most careful search, and in the anxiety to obtain a certainty as to the strength of this arm, I turned to my companion:

"A couple more of those grumblers, sir, would do no harm."

He quickly turned towards me with a frown. "Such remarks may injure you, sir; you have a remarkably sharp eye for a peaceable farmer." A loud "Hilloh, Charley, whom have we here?" at our rear, stopped my replying, and the next moment we were surrounded by five or six armed men, probably returning from a patrol; their leader, however-one of those vagabonds who are at home at the Mississippi landing in St. Louis, and who was only distinguished from the rest by having a firelock-laid his

broad, bony hand on my shoulder. I felt an irresistible impulse to loose his grasp, but overcame the feeling in time.

"I am not quite clear myself," my hitherto companion replied, while his face, however, displayed a slight dissatisfaction at the familiarity of the other fellow. "He says he comes from Laclede county, and has fowls and eggs for the governor, or general, in his sack."

"Hilloh, hilloh, eggs and fowls!" the patrol leader suddenly laughed, in the coarse fashion of his breed, while his hand clutched my shoulder more tightly. "I say, Charley, this child is suspicious, otherwise he must know that the faithful Missourians let their governor and general suffer no want of such dainties, while the army, it is true, must eat rusty bacon and rotten salt pork. I propose that we examine him thoroughly here; give him what he deserves, and take what he has about him to pay the costs of the court-martial."

"I think otherwise, sir, and must request you to be good enough to set the man at liberty," my companion said to the patrol leader with a flushed face." He has come voluntarily to our camp, trusted to my protection, wishes to enter our ranks, and no one shall say that any improper violence has been done him among us. General Price shall himself settle about

the man."

An ugly scowl played round the mouth of the first speaker.

"Oh! you have just come from a good supper at your own house," he said; "but if I consider the man suspicious, I trust that you will have nothing to say against it. I think I have seen his face somewhere, and not in Laclede county. Take care that you do not draw suspicion on yourself, Mr. Werner."

The speaker laid so marked a stress on the German name, that it was at once clear to me that this was sufficient to weaken perfect confidence among the Secessionists; at the same time, however, I also knew that the bearer of this name belonged to the house which had so struck me by the cleanliness and order of its belongings.

“Well, sir,” I said with decision, preventing the answer of my companion, “I will find my way to the general, even though you may stop me here and plunder me; but then we shall know what those have to expect who come into camp with the best will. I am of German descent too, sir. My name is Reuter, and if you want to know anything more, I have a couple of strong fists which can defend their owner. I suppose all present do not wish to play the thief with me."

At the same moment, by a strong jerk, I liberated myself from his grasp, and stood opposite to him with clenched fists. I knew that people of this stamp must be addressed in their own language if you wish to get anything from them, and that giving way only heightens their cowardly brutality; but in this instance I appeared to have made a mistake.

"Who do you call thief?" the man yelled, as he raised his musket to his cheek. At the same moment, however, my companion struck up the gun, while two men of the patrol sprang between us.

"Stay, Stevens, stay; he seems to be a worthy fellow. The general might have a crow to pluck with us, as it is, about the fowls," I heard several fellows mutter. And Stevens lowered his firelock with a poisonous glance.

Very well, he can come with us into the camp," he said, after a short visible struggle with himself; "but I'll be hanged if I do not know the face, and the Lord have mercy on him if all is not right with him."

He gave his men a sharp order to take me between them, and we started for camp at quick march. Within scarce five minutes the groups round the nearest camp-fire were clearly perceptible, and I honestly confess that my heart began to beat more impetuously at the earnestness of the danger, which now rose distinctly before me. Wherever I looked, I could only discover ruffians of the same stamp as my guardians-men who would display the same contempt for death in action, as they did in every street row for knives and revolvers, but who had hardly any other feeling than that of rough brutality, and had taken part in the war solely in order to punish the detested Dutchmen; for in Missouri the war from the outset had degenerated into a struggle between the German and American nationalities. Card-playing and swearing, with here and there a funny fellow who imitated a nigger, seemed to offer the sole amusement, and it was not till we reached the centre of the camp that the noise began to lull. Here I saw the uniform of several regular militia companies from St. Louis, to which only full-blooded Americans belonged; then came a wide open space, in the middle of which a camp-fire blazed, and twenty yards from it a halt was commanded, while the leader of the patrol and my first guide walked towards the fire.

I had perfect time to arrange my ideas. We were certainly in the vicinity of one of the general officers, and my difficulties were really about to begin; but how, even if I remained unsuspected, I was to escape unnoticed from the mob, appeared to me for the moment inexplicable, while it would be utterly impossible, should I become an object of suspicion, to which Stevens seemed much inclined. Still, I had not much time allowed me for useless reflections. Stevens returned, and ordered me to follow him, with a sulky look. An officer in handsome attire, with several aides, was now standing before the fire; behind it orderlies of the St. Louis militia were walking about-but the gentleman awaiting my arrival was not General Price.

My examiner was a thorough Southerner, with pale face, dark hair and beard, and black flashing eyes, which were fixed on me as I approached as if they wished to penetrate to my very soul.

"What has brought you into camp, sir ?" he asked, sharply.

"The same thing that may have brought others, sir," I replied, giving my voice all possible firmness. "I took the last fowls and eggs from our farm to bring them to the general, and to ask whether there is a musket spare for me."

to

"You say that you come from Laclede county?" was the second query.

"Yes, sir, not far from Oakland."

"And what have you to say to the contrary?" the examiner turned to Stevens; "the affair seems to me quite simple."

"I have only to say, colonel," Stevens replied, while a hateful smile played round his lips, "that a man can easily give himself out for what he pleases; but I know his face from St. Louis, though I do not remember exactly who he is; that the man is a German, and that I, there