"
Perkins took the coin, bit it, pitched it up two or three times,
catching it as it fell, and then put it upon the hearth, where the
blaze could gleam upon it.
"It's shorely a shiner," he said, "an' bein' that it's the first I've
ever had, I reckon I'll take good care of it. Wait a minute."
He picked up the coin again, ran up the ladder into the dark eaves of
the house, and came back without it.
"Now, Johnny Reb," he said, "put on my clothes and see how you feel."
Harry donned the uncouth garb, which fitted fairly well after he had
rolled up the trousers a little.
"You'd pass for a farmer," said Perkins. "I fed your hoss when I put
him up, an' as soon as the rain's over you kin start ag'in, a sight
safer than you wuz when you wore that uniform. Ef you come back this
way ag'in I'll give it to you. Now, you'd better take a nap. I'll call
you when the rain stops."
Harry felt that he had indeed fallen into the hands of a friend, and
stretching himself on a pallet which the charcoal burner spread in front
of the fire, he soon fell asleep. He awoke when Perkins shook his
shoulder and found that it was dawn.
"The rain's stopped, day's come an' I guess you'd better be goin'"
said the man.
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