nothing about the rebel army. In fact, I doubt that he will know of its
existence."

"I won't take your bet," said Dick.

They called to the man, a typical Virginia farmer in his shirt sleeves,
tall and spare, short whiskers growing under his chin. There was not
much difference between him and his brother farmer in New England.

"Good-day," said Warner.

"Good-day."

"You seem to be working hard."

"I've need to do it. Farm hands are scarce these days."

"Farming is hard work."

"Yes; but it's a lot safer than some other kinds men are doin'
nowadays."

"True, no doubt, but have you seen anything of the army?"

"What army?"

"The one under Lee and Jackson, the rebel army."

"I ain't heard of no rebel army, mister. I don't know of any such people
as rebels."

"You call it the Confederate army. Can you tell us anything about the
Confederate army?"

"What Confederate army, mister? I heard last month when I went in to the
court house that there was more than one of them."

"I mean the one under Lee and Jackson."

"That's cur'us. A man come ridin' 'long here three or four weeks ago.
Mebbe he was a lightnin' rod agent an' mebbe he had patent medicines to
sell, he didn't say, but he did tell me that General Jackson was in one
place an General Lee was in another. Now which army do you mean?"

"That was nearly a month ago. They are together now."

"Then, mister, if you know so much more about it than I do, what are you
askin' me questions for?"

"But I want to know about Lee and Jackson. Have you seen them?"

"Lord bless you, mister, them big generals don't come visitin' the likes
o' me. You kin see my house over thar among the trees. You kin search it
if you want to, but you won't find nothin'."

"I don't want to search your house. You can't hide a great army in a
house. I want to know if you've seen the Southern Army. I want to know
if you've heard anything about it."

"I ain't seed it. My sight's none too good, mister. Sometimes the
blazin' sun gits in my eyes and kinder blinds me for a long time. Then,
too, I'm bad of hearin'; but I'm a powerful good sleeper. When I sleep I
don't hear nothin', of course, an' nothin' wakes me up. I just sleep on,
sometimes dreamin' beautiful dreams. A million men wouldn't wake me, an'
mebbe a dozen armies or so have passed in the night while I was sleepin'
so good. I'd tell you anything I know, but them that knows nothin' has
nothin' to tell."

Warner's temper,