e who knows the town.
Dr. Thacker, who lives a little piece offen the square, an' gives big
doses of epecac fur everything, from brakebone fever ter the itch."

"Dr. Thacker, who lives just off the square," said Rachel. "I'll be
certain to remember."

"Take this, too," said Fortner, handing her a finely-finished revolver,
of rather large caliber. "Don't pull hit onless ye can't git along
without hit, an' then make sho o' yer man. Salt him."

"Good-by--God bless ye," said Aunt Debby, taking Rachel to her heart in
a passionate embrace, and kissing her repeatedly. "God bless ye agin. No
one ever hed more need o' His blessin' then we'uns will fur the next few
hours. Ef He does bless us an' our work we'll all be safe an' sound in
Gineral Rosencrans' tent afore noon. But ef His will's different we'll
be by thet time whar the Rebels cease from troublin', and the weary are
at rest. I'm sure thet ef I thot the Rebels war gwine ter whip our men
I'd never want ter see the sun rise ter-morrer. Good-by; we're all in
the hands o' Him who seeth even the sparrer's fall."

Fortner led the mare a little ways, to where he could get a good view,
and then said:

"Thet second line o' fires which ye see over thar is our lines--them
fires I mean which run up inter the woods. The fust line is the Rebels.
Ye'll go right out this road heah tell ye git outside the town, an' then
turn ter yer right an' make fur the Stone River. Ford hit or swim your
mar' acrost, an' make yer way thru or round the Rebel line. Ef ye find a
good road, an' everything favorable ye mout try ter make yer way strait
thru ef ye kin fool the gyards with yer story. Ef ye're fearful ye can't
then ride beyond the lines, an' come inter ours thet-a-way Aunt Deby'll
go ter the other flank, an' try ter git a-past Breckinridge's pickets,
an' I'll 'tempt ter make my way thru the center. We may all or none o'
us git thru. I can't gin ye much advice, ez ye'll hev ter trust mainly
ter yerself. But remember all the time what hangs upon yer gittin' the
news ter Rosy afore daybreak. Think all the time thet mebbe ye kin save
the hull army, mebbe win the vict'ry, sartinly save heeps o' Union lives
an' fool the pizen Rebels. This is the greatest chance ye'll ever hev
ter do good in all yer life, or a hundred more, ef ye could live 'em.
Good-by. Ef God Almighty smiles on us we'll meet ter-morrer on yon
side o' Stone River. Ef He frowns we'll meet on yon side o' the Shinin'
River. Good-by.