His first impulse was to shoot him where he
sat; but he was still ignorant of the number of persons there might be
in the house. Perhaps it was filled with soldiers. The report of
his gun would certainly alarm them, and might lead to his capture.
Besides, the man had addressed him as though he were the proprietor of
the plantation; perhaps he might be able to obtain some information.
So he answered, with some hesitation:
"Yes, I suppose there is an extra bed in the house; but I should
really like to know who and what you are, before I agree to
accommodate you."
"I am Lieutenant Somers," answered the rebel; "and I belong to the
Seventeenth Georgia Infantry. You belong to the army too, do you not?"
he continued, noticing the brass buttons on Frank's coat.
It was a lucky circumstance for the young hero that the night was so
dark, or he would certainly have been discovered.
"Yes," he answered, in reply to the rebel's question, "I am in the
service. But what are you doing around here this time of night?"
"I have been hunting after an escaped Yankee prisoner--a gun-boat
officer.
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