e, Tom. Ye're blacker than Black Jack."

"Dad, there's another man up the chimley. We come near havin' a fight up
there. I told him what I would do; and he got skeered, and went up top."

"What d'yer mean, Tom?" demanded the patriarch.

Tom stated again, more explicitly than before, the subject matter of his
startling communication.

"I reckon he's a Yank, dad; he talks like one, but says he b'longs to the
Forty-fust Virginny. I know he's a Yank. I kin smell one a mile off."

Somers was flattered; but he was not angry at the compliment, and calmly
waited for an invitation to join the family below.

"He's the feller that gin the soldiers the slip," added the father. "The
sergeant says he's a Yank; but t'other prisoner says he's a James River
pilot."

"I know he's a Yank. He'd 'a' killed me if I hadn't skeered him off."

"I reckon he skeered you more'n you skeered him," added the head of the
family, who appeared not to have a very high opinion of his son's
courage. "We'll smoke him out, Tom. Go'n git some pitch-wood and sich
truck."

Somers had a very strong objection to being smoked out, and he commenced
a forward and downward movement in the direction of the assailing party.
Fearing that some unworthy advantage might be taken of his lower
extremities before he could assume an attitude of defense, he drew his
pistol, and placed himself a few feet above the fire-place. Tom returned
with the fuel, and the old man ordered him to make a fire.

"One moment, if you please," said Somers. "I'll shoot the first man of
you that attempts to make a fire there."

With an exclamation of terror, Tom retreated from the hearth; and Somers,
improving the opportunity, leaped down from his perch. Stepping out from
the great fire-place, he stood in the presence of the hopeful son and
sire.

CHAPTER XXIV

A BROKEN BARGAIN

Somers was entirely satisfied with himself when he stood in the presence
of the farmer and his son; and, so far as they were concerned, he had no
fears for the future. The redoubtable Tom retired to one corner of the
room, and, full of terror, awaited the issue. The father was the braver
of the two, and stood in the middle of the floor, confronting the
pestilent Yankee who had thus so unceremoniously invaded his house.

"Who be you?" demanded the old man.

"No matter who I am," replied Somers, with the pistol still in his hand.
"I propose to spend the day with you, and will pay for everything I
h