and, catching Frank, swung him up behind an-

134



TWO LITTLE CONFEDERATES

other cavalryman. The boy's face was very
pale, but lie bit his lip.
"Go ahead,"— continued the corporal to a
number of his men, who started down the path,
' ' You four men remain here till we come back, ' '
he said to the men on the ground, and to two
others on horseback. ' * Keep him here, ' ' j erking
his thumb toward Willy, whose face was already
burning with emotioii.
"I 'm going with Frank," said Willy. "Let
me go." This to the man who had hold of him
by the arm. "Frank, make him let me go," he
shouted, bursting into tears, and turning on his
captor with all his little might.
"Willy, he 's not goin' to hurt you,— don't
you tell!" called Frank, squirming until he dug
his heels so into the horse 's flanks that the horse
began to kick up.
"Keep quiet, Johnny; he 's not goin' to hurt
him," said one of the men, kiadly. He had a
brown beard and shining white teeth.
They rode slowly down the narrow path, the
dragoon holding Frank by the leg. Deep down
in the woods, beyond a small bran.ch, the path
forked.
"Which way?" asked the corporal, stopping
and addressing Frank.
135



TWO LITTLE CONFEDERATES

Frank set Ms mouth tight and looked him in
the eyes,

"Which is it?" the corporal repeated.
"I ain't going to tell," said he, firmly.
"Look here, Johnny; we 've got you, and we
are going to make you tell us ; so you might just
as well do it, easy. If you don't, we 're goin' to
make you."

The boy said nothing.
