Follow it. Jest over the hill
you'll run into a passel of our fellers, but pay no 'tention to 'em.
If they ask you who you are an' whar you're boun' tell 'em to go straight
to blazes, while you go to Vicksburg."
"Thank you," said Dick, "I like to meet an obliging and polite man like
you. It helps even in war."
"Don't mention it. When I wuz a little shaver my ma told me always
to mind my manners, an' when I didn't she whaled the life out of me.
An', do you know, stranger, she's just a leetle, withered old woman,
but if she could 'pear here right now I'd be willin' to set down right
in these bushes an' say, 'Ma, take up that stick over thar an' beat me
across the shoulders an' back with it as hard as you kin.' I'd feel
good all over."
"I believe you," said Dick, who thought of his own mother.
He followed the indicated path until he was out of sight of everybody,
and then he plunged into the bushes and marsh toward the river. When he
was well hidden he stopped and considered.
It was quite evident that he had wandered from the right road, but it was
no easy task to get back into it.
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