"The wife of Captain Cary," Harris said in a low tone and the General nodded.
"Den—bless Gawd—de Cun'l come! He pick him down offn de front po'ch—and put him under 'rest. Yas, seh. An' Miss Hallie, she sho' was hoppin', Gen'l. She—"
"Never mind that," sighed the man whose creed was Patience. "Go on with the story."
"Yas, seh. Thank'e, seh. 'Twas des lek I tell you, seh. An' arfter while orders come to de cav'lry gent'men fer to light out fr'm dar in a hurry. An' whilst dey was gettin' ready, seh, an' me an' de Cun'l was waitin' roun' fer to proteck de property, de fire bus' right out de winders!
"Dat's right, Mars' Gen'l," Uncle Billy hurried to state, as the General's eyebrows went up in surprise. "Dat's right. Den de front do' flewed open, an' here come dat po' white trash rapscallion—wid de pine knot in his han'. Yas, seh. He—"
"One moment!" snapped the General. "Was he running towards his troop or away from it?"
"Way fr'm it, seh," replied the old negro, with unmistakable truthfulness, "t'odes de ice house whar Miss Hallie an' de chillun was at. Yas, seh."
"And Mr. Morrison tried to stop him?"
"Ha!" cried Uncle Billy, with a chuckle. "He mo'n tried, seh. He done it!"
The General nodded, his lips tight shut.