first convenient
opportunity, to get rid of him, for he did not feel safe in the company of
such a person.

"Now which side do you fight fur?" asked Joe, after a long period of
silence.

"For the Union side," replied Tom, promptly.

"What are yer doin' here, then?"

"I was in the battle below, and was taken prisoner, got away, and I want
to get to Washington."

"I reckon this ain't the way to git thar," added Joe.

"I doubt whether I can get there any other way."

Just then, Tom would have given all the money he had in the world, and all
that the government owed him, for a good map of Virginia--or even for a
knowledge of geography which would have enabled him to find his way by the
safest route to Washington. But he had been a diligent scholar in school,
and had faithfully improved the limited opportunities which had been
afforded him. His mind could recall the map of Virginia which he had
studied in school, but the picture was too faint to be of much practical
benefit to him.

He had treasured up some information, derived from the newspapers, in
regard to the Manassas Gap Railroad. He knew that it passed through the
Blue Ridge, at the western base of which flowed the Shenandoah River: this
emptied into the Potomac, which would certainly conduct him to Washington.
In following these two rivers, he should have to describe nearly a circle,
which was not an encouraging fact to a boy on foot, with no resources, and
in an enemy's country.

If he returned by the way he came, the country was filled with rebel
soldiers, and he could hardly expect to pass through their lines without
being captured. Difficult and dangerous as the route by the Shenandoah
appeared, he decided to adopt it.

Joe Burnap proposed that they should have supper and opened the bag which
he had filled with such eatables as he could hastily procure on leaving
home. They ate a hearty meal, and then resumed their walk for another
hour.

"I reckon we'd better stop here," said Joe. "The Gap's only half a mile
from here, and it's too arly in the night to go through thar yet. Thar's
too many soldiers goin' that way."

"What time will you go through?" asked Tom.

"Not afore midnight."

"Then I'll turn in and take a nap. I didn't sleep any last night."

"I'm agreed," replied Joe, who seemed to be indifferent to every thing
while he could keep out of the rebel army.

Tom coiled up his body in the softest place he could find, and went to
sleep. E