with feelings that can not be described. He now had little hope of being
able to elude his pursuers, who, he was certain, would keep the river
closely guarded until daylight, when they would soon discover his
hiding-place. He could not go on without fear of running against some of
his enemies, in the dark, and to remain where he was, appeared equally
dangerous. But of one thing he was certain--and as the thought passed
through his mind, he clutched his revolvers desperately--and that was,
if he was captured, it would require more than one man to do it.

Presently he heard footsteps approaching, and two rebels came up. One of
them he knew, by his voice, was the very man who had just fired at him.

"I know he went this yere way," said he.

"Wal, hold on a minit," said the other, panting loudly; "let's rest a
leetle--I'm nigh gin out;" and he seated himself so close to Archie
that, had it been daylight, he would certainly have been discovered.

"I'll be dog-gone," said the one who had first spoken, "ef this 'ere
night's work don't beat all natur'. Them ar Yanks ain't no fools, dog ef
they ar!"

"Who'd a thought it?" returned his companion. "Them ar two fellers come
out here an' burn a house with more'n three hundred men in it? Dog-gone!
But how did that other feller get away?"

"Oh, he had a boat," answered the other, "an he got thar afore we could
ketch him. He's on board his gun-boat afore this time. I jest ketched a
glimpse of him as he was goin' down the bank. He had Damon by the neck,
an' he was makin' him walk turkey, now I tell yer."