k against its blazing embers, then lit up again,
and passing away into the shadow. How could he ever get by them? His
heart began to beat and his teeth to chatter, but he walked boldly up.

"Halt! who goes there?" cried the sentry, bringing his gun down and
advancing on him.

Bob kept on, and the sentinel, finding that it was only a boy, looked
rather sheepish. To the men about the camp-fire his appearance was the
signal for fun.

"Don't let him capture you, Jim," called one of them; "Call the
Corporal of the Guard," another; "Order up the reserves," a third.
"He's a Christmas-gift for you; I'm going to put him in your stocking,"
laughed one. "It's big enough to hold him," said another.

Bob had to undergo something of an examination. Where had he come from?

"I know the little Johnny," said one of the men. "He lives over in the
white house on the hill to that side of the creek."

They told Bob to draw up to the fire, and made quite a fuss over him.
Bob had his wits about him and soon learned that a batch of prisoners
were at a fire a hundred yards farther back. He therefore made his way
over there, although he was advised to stay where he was and get dry,
and had many offers of a bunk from his new friends, some of whom
followed him over to where the prisoners were.

Most of the prisoners were quartered for the night in a hut before
which a guard was stationed. One or two, however, sat around the
camp-fire, chatting with their guards. Among these was a major in full
uniform. Bob singled him out: he was just about his father's size.

Bob was instantly the centre of attraction. Again he told them he was
from Holly Hill; again he was recognized by one of the men.

"Run away to join the army?" asked one.

"No," said Bob, his eyes flashing at the suggestion.

"Lost?"

"No."

"Mother whipped you?"

"No."

As soon as their curiosity had somewhat subsided, Bob, who had hardly
been able to contain himself, said to the Confederate major in a low
undertone:

"My father, Colonel Stafford, is at home, concealed, and the Yankees
have taken possession of the house."

"Well?" said the Major, looking down at him as if casually.

"He cannot escape. He came to-night through the lines, and he has on
citizen's clothes, and--" Bob's voice choked suddenly as he gazed at
the Major's uniform.

"Well?" The prisoner for a second looked sharply down at the boy's
earnest face. Then he put his hand under his c