Could not lay out half a dollar better." Half an hour later they had left Nashville behind them, and were tramping along the road toward the east, Dan carrying a bundle in which the provisions were wrapped, and the neck of the bottle of rum sticking out of his pocket.

As soon as they were well in the country Vincent changed his clothes for those Dan had just brought him, and making the others up into a bundle, continued his way.
"Why you not leave dem black clothes behind, sah?
What good take dem wid you ?" "I am not going to carry them far, Dan.

The first wood or thick clump of bushes we come to I shall hide them away; but if you were to leave them here they would be found the first thing in the morning, and perhaps be carried into the town and handed over to the police, and they might put that and the fact of my not having returned to the hotel--which is sure to be talked about--together, and come to the conclusion that either Mullens was right and that I was an escaped Confederate, or that I had been murdered by Mullens.

In either case they might get up a search, and perhaps send telegrams to the troops in the towns beyond us.

Anyhow, it's best the clothes should not be found." All night they tramped along, pausing only for half an hour about midnight, when Dan suggested that as he had only had some bread to eat--and not too much of that--during the last forty-eight hours, he thought that he could do with some supper.