oesn't ye want any fowl?" and he drew back the cloth and showed the
contents of the basket.

"Take them as a matter of curiosity, general," the other officer
laughed. "It will be a downright novelty to you to buy chickens."

"What do you want for them, boy?"

"Mother said as I wasn't to take less nor a dollar apiece."

"Greenbacks, I suppose?" the officer asked.

"I suppose so. She didn't say nothing about it; but I have not seen
aught but greenbacks for a long time since."

"Come along, then," the officer said; "we will take them."

They rode up to the large tent, and the officers alighted, and gave
their horses to two of the soldiers.

"Give your basket to this soldier."

"I want the basket back again. Mother would whop me if I came back
without the basket again."

"All right," the officer said; "you shall have it back in a minute."

Vincent stood looking anxiously after the orderly.

"Do you think that boy is as foolish as he seems?" General Sheridan
asked his companion. "He admits that he comes of a rebel family."

"I don't think he would have admitted that if he hadn't been a fool. I
fancy he is a half-witted chap. They never would have left a fellow of
his age behind."

"No, I think it's safe," Sheridan said; "but one can't be too particular
just at present. See, the trees in front hide our work altogether from
the rebels, and it would be a serious thing if they were to find out
what we are doing."

"That boy could not tell them much, even if he got there," the other
said; "and from this distance it would need a sharp eye and some
military knowledge to make out anything of what is going on. Where does
your mother live, boy?"

"I aint going to tell you," Vincent said doggedly. "Mother said I wasn't
to tell no one where I lived, else the Yankee thieves would be a-coming
down and stealing the rest of our chickens."

The officers laughed.

"Well, go along, boy; and I should advise you not to say anything about
Yankee thieves another time, for likely enough, you will get a broken
head for your pains."

Vincent went off grumbling, and with a slow and stumbling step made his
way over the brow of the hill and down through the camps behind. Here he
sold his last two fowls and his eggs, and then walked briskly on until
he reached the cottage from which he had started.

"I am glad to see you back," the woman said as he entered. "How have you
got on?"

"Capitally," he said. "I pretended to be half a