What are you trying to do, Atherton,--get to the rear of the Yanks ?" "Yes," I answered, with some hesitation, and glancing aside at the girl.
I could not determine how much of all this she actually believed, or how far I might venture to carry forward the deceit.

Her eyes were upon me, but their shaded depths revealed nothing.

I determined to take the chance.

"Johnston requires more exact information as to the Yankee artillery, and thought I might get in around the right flank.

I saw a dust cloud across the river as we came into town." "A foraging party; they went west; we have the bridge guarded." "Beauregard's advance may hurry Johnston," I continued, eager to draw out of him some information of value.