Beyond a doubt this was but a stratagem to capture him.

But he resolved that he would never surrender, as long as he had sufficient strength to handle his rifle.
"Well, my young friend," exclaimed the man in the rebel uniform, "this is a nice dress for a Federal officer to be wearing, isn't it ?" "I don't believe that either of you are officers in the Federal army," answered Frank.

"It's my opinion that you are both rebels.

If it is your intention to attempt to capture me, I may as well tell you that your expectations will never be realized, for I shall never be taken alive;" and Frank handled the lock of his gun in a very significant manner.
"I admire your grit," said the man, "and I acknowledge that you have strong grounds for suspicion.

But we are really escaped prisoners." "Yah," chimed in the Dutchman, "I shwear dat is so." "It is no fault of ours," continued the man, "that we are wearing rebel uniforms; for we were compelled to exchange with our captors, and were obliged to accept these, or go without any." "What regiment do you belong to ?" "The One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, Company 'K.' I formerly belonged to the Forty-sixth Maine." "Do you know any of the boys belonging to Company 'B,' of the Forty-sixth Maine Regiment ?" "Oh, yes," replied the man, "I know Harry and George Butler, Ben Lake, and, in fact, all the boys; for I once belonged to that very company.
My home is only twenty miles from Lawrence, the place where the company was raised." Frank did not stop to ask any more questions, for he was satisfied that he had fallen in with friends.