"You're a cool one," said the captain. "You come walking across the
field, and without a word of explanation you say you want a horse.
Don't you want a carriage too?"
"I don't need it. But I must have a horse, Captain. I ride with a
message and it must be of great importance because I was told to go with
it at all speed and risk my life for it. I've risked my life already.
My horse was shot by a band of rebels, but luckily it was in the woods
and I escaped on foot."
As he spoke he craftily moved the canteen around until the inscription
showed clearly in the bright sunlight. The quick eyes of the captain
caught it at once.
"You do belong to the Fifth Pennsylvania," he said. "Well, you're a
long way from your regiment. It's back of that low mountain over there,
a full forty miles from here, I should say."
Harry felt a throb of relief. It was his only fear that these men
themselves should belong to the Fifth Pennsylvania, a long chance,
but if it should happen to go against him, fatal to all his plans.
"I don't want to join my regiment," he said. "I'm looking for General
Pleasanton."
"General Pleasanton! What can you happen to want with him?"
Harry gave the officer a wary and suspicious look, and then his eyes
brightened as if he were satisfied.
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