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." "Did you catch him ?" inquired Frank.
"No; but I caught two others.