He touches
her on the shoulder. MARY is so startled, that she jumps and
utters a faint cry.]
NORTHERNER. Be still, or they'll hear you. How are you going to
get me out of this?
MARY [angrily]. Ye git out. Why did ye come here, a-bringin' me
all this extra work, an' maybe death?
NORTHERNER. I couldn't go any farther. My horse and I were both
near dropping. Won't you help me?
MARY. No, I won't. I don't know who ye are or nothin' 'bout ye,
'cept that them men want t' ketch ye. [In a changed tone of
curiosity.] Did ye steal somethin' from 'em?
NORTHERNER. Don't you understand? Those men belong to the
Confederacy, and I'm a Northerner. They've been chasing me all
day. [Pulling a bit of crumpled paper from his breast.] They want
this paper. If they get it before to-morrow morning it will mean
the greatest disaster that's ever come to the Union army.
MARY [with frank curiosity]. Was it ye rode by yesterday?
NORTHERNER. Don't you see what you can do? Get me out of here and
away from those men, and you'll have done more than any soldier
could do for the country -- for your country.
MARY.
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