ion the boys failed to recognize him.

"Well, he's the feller. I can tell you right whar he is, this minute.
He did me a mean trick, an' I'm gwine to give him up. Come along."

"What did he do to you?" inquired the boys, as they followed him down
the road.

"Why--he--; but 't's no use to be rakin' it up agin. You know he
always passes hisself off as one o' the conscrip'-guards,--that's his
dodge. Like as not, that's what he's gwine try and put off on y' all
now; but don't you let him fool you."

"We're not going to," said the boys.

"He rigs hisself up in a uniform--jes' like as not he stole it,
too,--an' goes roun' foolin' people, meckin' out he's such a soldier.
If he fools with me, I'm gwine to finish him!" Here Tim gripped his
gun fiercely.

The boys promised not to be fooled by the wily Johnson. All they asked
was to have him pointed out to them.

"Don't you let him put up any game on you 'bout bein' a
conscrip'-guard hisself," continued their friend.

"No, indeed we won't. We are obliged to you for telling us."

"He ain't so very fur from here. He's mighty tecken up with John
Hall's gal, and is tryin' to meck out like he's Gen'l Lee hisself, an'
she ain't got no mo' sense than to b'lieve him."

"Why, we heard, Mr. Mills, she was going to marry _you_."

"Oh, no, _I_ ain't a good enough soldier for her; she wants to marry
_Gen'l Lee_."

The boys laughed at his dry tone.

As they walked along they consulted how the capture should be made.

"I tell you how to take him," said their companion. "He is a monstrous
coward, and all you got to do is jest to bring your guns down on him.
I wouldn't shoot him--'nless he tried to run; but if he did that, when
he got a little distance I'd pepper him about his legs. Make him give
up his sword and pistol and don't let him ride; 'cause if you do,
he'll git away. Make him walk--the rascal!"

The boys promised to carry out these kindly suggestions.

They soon came in sight of the little house where Mills said the
deserter was. A soldier's horse was standing tied at the gate, with a
sword hung from the saddle. The owner, in full uniform, was sitting on
the porch.

"I can't go any furder," whispered their friend; "but that's
him--that's 'Gen'l Lee'--the triflin' scoundrel!--loafin' 'roun' here
'sted o' goin' in the army! I b'lieve y' all is 'fraid to take him,"
eyeing the boys suspiciously.

"No, we ain't; you'll see," said both boys, fired at the doubt.

"All r