"A whole army of them may camp near that ford, and drive me out of my hiding place." Jumping into the bateau again, he waited till he was satisfied no carriage or body of troops was in the vicinity; and then plying the paddle with the utmost vigor, he passed the ford.

But then he found that the public highway ran along the banks of the river, which exposed him to increased risk of being seen.

A couple of vehicles passed along the road while he was in this exposed situation; but as the occupants of them seemed to take no notice of him, he congratulated himself upon his escape, for presently the boat was beneath the shadows of the great trees.

Finding a suitable place, he again hauled up, and concealed himself and the bateau.
As all danger seemed to have passed, Tom composed his nerves, ate his dinner, and went to sleep as usual; but his rest was not so tranquil as he had enjoyed in the solitudes of the mountains.

Visions of rebel soldiers haunted his dreams, and more than once he started up, and gazed wildly around him; but these were only visions, and there was something more real to disturb his slumbers.
"Hi! Who are you ?" exclaimed a wildcat soldier, who had penetrated the thicket without disturbing the sleeper.
Tom started up, and sprang to his feet.