't pass this line."

"Can't I, you stupid fool? I have passed it while you were asleep."

"I haven't been asleep."

"Where have you been, then?" demanded Tom with terrible energy.

"Been here, sir."

"I'll court-martial the whole of you!"

"Stop, sir, or I'll fire at you!" added the soldier, as Tom moved on.

"Fire at me! Fire, if you dare, and I'll rid the army of one unfaithful
man on the spot!" said the soldier boy, as he raised the musket to his
shoulder.

"Don't fire, you fool!" interposed one of the men whom Tom had roused from
his slumbers in the entry. "Don't you see he is an officer?"

"I'll teach you how to perform your duty!" added Tom, as he walked away.

The soldier, governed by the advice of his companion, offered no further
objection to the departure of Tom; and he moved off as coolly as though he
had just been regularly relieved from guard duty. He had walked but a
short distance before he discovered the camp of a regiment or brigade,
which, of course, it was necessary for him to avoid. Leaving the road, he
jumped over the fence into a field--his first object being to place a
respectful distance between himself and the enemy.

The scene through which he had just passed, though he had preserved the
appearance of coolness and self-possession, had been exceedingly trying to
his nerves; and when the moment of pressing danger had passed, he found
his heart up in his throat, and his strength almost wasted by the
excitement. He felt as one feels when he has just escaped a peril which
menaced him with instant death. It was singular that the soldier had not
fired, but the fact that he did not convinced Tom that there is an amazing
power in impudence.

For half an hour, he pursued his way with haste and diligence, but without
knowing where he was going--whether he was moving toward Richmond or
Washington. As the musket which he had taken from the church was not only
an encumbrance, but might betray him, he threw it away, though, thinking
some means of defence might be useful, he retained the bayonet, and thrust
it in his belt. Thus relieved of his burden, he walked till he came to a
road. As there was no appearance of an enemy in any direction, he followed
this road for some time, and finally it brought him to the object of his
search--the railroad.

But then came up the most perplexing question he had yet been called upon
to decide. To that railroad, as to all others, there were, unfortunately,
two