river, he hauled up his boat, intending to wait for the
return of darkness.

The place he had chosen appeared to be far from any habitation, and he ate
his breakfast in a very hopeful frame of mind. Though he was not very
tired or very sleepy, yet for the want of something better to do, he felt
compelled to go to sleep, hoping, as on the previous day, to dispose of
the weary hours in this agreeable manner. His pastime, however, was soon
interrupted by loud shouts and the tramp of men, not far from the spot
where he lay. A hurried examination of the surroundings assured him that
he had chosen a resting place near one of the fords of the river, over
which a rebel regiment was then passing.

CHAPTER XXI.

THE PROBLEM OF RATIONS.

The ford over which the rebel regiment was passing was only a few rods
distant from the place where Tom had concealed himself and his boat. When
he discovered the soldiers, he was thrilled with terror; and, fully
believing that his hour had come, he dropped upon the ground, to wait, in
trembling anxiety, the passage of the troops. It was a regiment of
Virginia mountaineers, clothed in the most fantastic style with
hunting-shirts and coon-skin caps. They yelled and howled like so many
wildcats.

From his hiding place on the bank of the stream, he obtained a good view
of the men, as they waded across the river. He was fearful that some of
them might stray from the ranks, and stumble upon his place of refuge; but
a kind Providence put it into their heads to mind their own business, and
Tom gathered hope as the yells of the mountaineers grew indistinct in the
distance.

"This is no place for me," said Tom to himself, when the sounds had died
away in the direction of the Blue Ridge. "A whole army of them may camp
near that ford, and drive me out of my hiding place."

Jumping into the bateau again, he waited till he was satisfied no carriage
or body of troops was in the vicinity; and then plying the paddle with the
utmost vigor, he passed the ford. But then he found that the public
highway ran along the banks of the river, which exposed him to increased
risk of being seen. A couple of vehicles passed along the road while he
was in this exposed situation; but as the occupants of them seemed to take
no notice of him, he congratulated himself upon his escape, for presently
the boat was beneath the shadows of the great trees. Finding a suitable
place, he again hauled up, and concealed himse