Dan shook his head reproachfully.
“What air you, then?”
“Beggars, madam.”
“I might ha' knowed it!” returned the woman, with a snort. “Well, whatever you air, you kin jest as eas'ly keep on along that thar road. I ain't got nothing on this place for you. Some of you broke into my smokehouse night befo' last an' stole all the spar' ribs I'd been savin'. Was you the ones?”
“No, ma'am.”
“Oh, you're all alike,” protested the woman, scornfully, “an' a bigger set o' rascals I never seed.”
“Huh! Who's a rascal?” exclaimed Big Abel, angrily.
“This is the reward of doing your duty, Big Abel,” remarked Dan, gravely. “Never do it again, remember. The next time Virginia is invaded we'll sit by the fire and warm our feet. Good morning, madam.”
“Why ain't you with the army?” inquired the woman sharply, slapping the cow upon the side as she rose from her seat and took up the milk pail. “An officer rode by this morning an' he told me part of the army was campin' ten miles across on the other road.”
“Did he say whose division?”