He had been doing this for some time when all at once his blood froze as another voice, fifteen times as big as his, said, in his very ear—
"I—I—I'm gwine to have yo' meat fo' dinneh."
He dropped half over, speechless, and beheld standing above him, nineteen feet high as well as he could estimate hastily, a Yankee captain mounted and in full uniform. John leaped up, and remembered he was in gray.
"What are you doing here all alone, Shorty?"
"I dunno."
"Who are you? What's your name?"
"I dunno."
The Captain moved as if to draw his revolver, but brought forth instead a large yellow apple. Then did John confess who he was and why there. The Captain did as much on his part.
He had risen with the morning star to do an errand beyond Widewood, and was now getting back to Suez. This very dawn he had made Judge March's acquaintance beside his broken wagon, and had seen him ride toward Suez to begin again the repair of his disasters. Would the small Confederate like to ride behind him?
Very quickly John gave an arm and was struggling up behind the saddle. The Captain touched the child's back.