that will require both skill and nerve, and I would like you to undertake it, especially as you seem to have a talent for disguising yourself."
I concluded that I would find out exactly what he wanted me to do, before I gave him any satisfaction ; so I said, "What kind of a job is it ? I have risked my neck pretty often without getting very many thanks for it, and I don't know that I care a great deal about running all kinds of risks for little glory, and no more substantial reward."
"O, come, now," said he, "you must not talk that way. Now is the very time that your services will be worth something; and this bit of business that I am anxious for you to undertake, is of such a nature, that it would not do to give it to any but a first-rate hand."
"Well, what is it ? When I know what you want me to do, I will be better able to say whether it would be worth my while to do it."
"Wouldn't you like to take a trip through the lines?" said the lieutenant.
"That depends," said I. "What do you want me to make the trip for?"
"I will tell you that, when you tell me whether you will go."
I considered a moment, and then said, " Yes, I will go, if it is for anything to serve the cause."
"That's the way to talk," said he. " I am in the secret service, and I want you to take a despatch through the lines and give it to a certain party. It will be a big thing if you succeed, as I think you will, or I wouldn't have picked you out for the business."
"Well," said I, "I will make an effort, and do my best to succeed."
"O, you must succeed," said the lieutenant ; " for there will be the devil to pay if the Feds discover what you are up to, and you will have to do your prettiest to prevent them from even suspecting that you are up to any unlawful tricks."
"I'll do my best, and I can't do any more than that ; but as I have fooled them before, so I guess I can again."
"Well," said he, "that's all right. Now, what I want you to do is, to meet me to-morrow evening at Meridian. I will have everything ready for you, and will give you your instructions, and you be prepared for a hard journey. In the mean time, keep quiet, and don't whisper a word to anybody."
