Here's my pass, and I want to go on.

My father may die before I get home." "What regiment do you b'long to ?" asked the guard, who evidently did not wish to disoblige a fellow-soldier unnecessarily.
"The Second Virginia," replied Tom, at a venture.
"Where does your father live ?" continued the sentinel.
"Just beyond the Gap, if he's living at all." "What town ?" Tom was nonplussed, for he did not know the name of a single place on the route before him; and, of course, he did not dare to answer the question.
"About five or six miles from here," he answered.
"Is it Salem or White Plains ?" demanded the soldier, whose cunning was inferior to his honesty.
"White Plains," added Tom, promptly accepting the suggestion.
"What's the matter with your father ?" "I don't know; he was taken suddenly." "Pears like your uniform ain't exactly our sort," added the soldier.
"Mine was all used up, and I got one on the battle-field." "I wouldn't do that.

It's mean to rob a dead man of his clothes." "Couldn't help it--I was almost naked," replied Tom, who perfectly agreed with the rebel on this point.
"You kin go on, Old Virginny," said the soldier, whose kindly sympathy for Tom and his sick father was highly commendable.
The soldier boy thanked the sentinel for his permission, of which he immediately availed himself.

Tom did not yet realize the force of the maxim that "all is fair in war," and his conscience gave a momentary twinge as he thought of the deception he had practised upon the honest and kind-hearted rebel.

He was very thankful that he had not been compelled to put a bullet through his head; but perhaps he was more thankful that the man had not been obliged to do him a similar favor.
The fugitive walked, with an occasional rest, till daylight the next morning.