"Is this meant for a report?" asked General Ashley. And we others snickered. It wasn't the right way to make a report.
"Yes, sir," answered Henry. "That is, I reconnoitered the enemy's camp, sir, and they're talking about us."
"What did you hear?"
"They're going to rush us when we're asleep, and scare us."
"Very well," said General Ashley. "But you weren't ordered to do that. You left your post, sir."
"I thought you'd like to know. They didn't hear me," stammered Major Henry.
"You'd no business to go, just the same. Orders are orders. Where is Smith?"
"Watching on picket."
"Did he go, too?"
"No, sir."