"How's that?" asked the General, not understanding.
Lieutenant Harris came forward a step.
"The act of incendiarism I spoke of, General—on the part of Sergeant Dudley."
The General looked up and nodded.
"I see," he said, and Harris, knowing that due weight would be given the fact let go a faint sigh of relief and stepped back.
The cigar came out of the General's mouth. "Tell me about it," he said to Uncle Billy.
The old negro drew himself up and shifted his weight onto his other foot.
"Well, seh, 'twas dis way. One mornin' de blue-bellies—'skuse me, seh, de cav'lry gent'men. One mornin' de cav'lry gent'men come ridin' up, lookin' fer horses an' fodder an'—an' Mars' Cary—an' anything else what was layin' roun'. Yas, seh. An' des' befo' dis here gent'man come," with a bow at Morrison, "a low-lived white man took'n grab me by de th'oat—an' choke me, seh. Den he 'sult Miss Hallie—"
"Miss Hallie?" queried the General.
"My mis'tiss, seh," answered Uncle Billy. "My mis'tiss, seh," he said again and his hand went up to his eyes.