ectfully dropped a pace or two behind him. They reached the brigade
headquarters, and then repaired to the guard tent, from which the scout
took his departure upon his arduous and difficult mission, with the best
wishes of the rebel officers.

With his pass he had no difficulty in going through any line, and made
his way down to the woods on the left of the open fields. He began to
feel easier when he had passed the field-works, and experienced a
sensation of exultation as he thought of the reception which awaited him
at headquarters as well as in the regiment.

CHAPTER XV

THE SHARPSHOOTER IN THE WOODS

Somers found the picket guard nearer the rebel line than he had
anticipated; but the exhibition of his pass, which had been prepared with
special reference to this purpose, prevented any long detention, though a
sergeant had to be called who was scholar enough to read the mysterious
document.

"I reckon you haven't got the best place to go through," said the
sergeant, after he had examined the pass, and satisfied himself of its
correctness.

"Why not?"

"There's a whole squad of Yankees a good piece in there," he replied,
pointing in the direction of the Federal lines. "They've been there all
day watching for something."

"What do they want?"

"There was a man run through the line this forenoon from their side, and
I reckon they are trying to find him."

"Was he a Yank?" asked Somers, desirous of obtaining their idea of the
fugitive.

"Dunno what he was. We didn't see him till he got a good piece behind us.
We were chasing the Yanks who run away when they saw us."

This was satisfactory to our scout; for the sergeant appeared to have no
knowledge that would be dangerous to him, and none of the graybacks
recognized the pants he wore. He advanced cautiously, as though he was
afraid of stumbling upon the squad of Yankees described by the sergeant,
till he could no longer be seen by the pickets. The last obstacle seemed
to be overcome; and he hastened to the place where he had concealed his
uniform, which he wished to put on before he approached the pickets on
the other side. It was now nearly dark, and he had no time to spare; for,
if he approached his own men in the darkness, he would be in danger of
being shot before they discovered who he was, though he had full
confidence in the discretion of Hapgood.

Without difficulty, he found the place where he had concealed his
clothes; and, after assuri