ust made your way through the Yankee lines shows
that you possess the necessary address."

"I thank you for your good opinion; and I assure you, sir, that I should
be very glad to serve my country in any capacity in which she may require
my humble labors."

"Very well, young man."

"A plan occurs to me now, by which I could easily enter the Yankee
lines."

"Indeed! What is that?"

"When I ran through the enemy's pickets, they fired upon me, and one of
them chased me. I brought him down with my pistol," replied Somers,
producing the weapon, which he had taken the precaution to bring with
him. "I know just where that Yankee lies now; I could borrow his uniform,
and go in among the enemy without suspicion."

"Very well arranged, young man."

The major then directed an orderly to attend to the wants of the
fugitive, and gave the latter orders to report to him within two hours.
Somers washed his face, and partook of some cold bacon and corn bread,
which constituted the staple of the rebel rations. He then told the
orderly that he wanted to look round a little, and find his regiment, if
he could; but was informed that the camp regulations did not permit any
strolling about the camps. He suggested that the officer of the day would
give him a pass, and he returned to the major to beg this favor. It was
readily granted; and the time for him to report was extended to four
hours, as his regiment was situated at some distance from the brigade
camp, though it belonged to the same division.

Thus provided, Somers commenced his tour of observation. Of course, he
had no intention of visiting the Fourth Alabama; for that would have been
putting his head into the lion's mouth. We need only say, that he used
his time to the best advantage for the country in whose service he had
enlisted. He noted the brigades, regiments, and batteries of artillery,
which he saw in his walk; and arranged a little scheme in his mind, by
which he could remember the number of each.

In the course of his perambulations, he reached the Williamsburg road,
and was on the point of extending his observations in the direction of
the railroad, when he was stopped by a sentinel. He produced his pass,
which the rebel soldier could not read; and he was conducted to the
sergeant of the guard, who was listening to a conversation between a
captain and an old man who appeared to be a farmer. They were bargaining
about some forage which the captain wanted, and whi