“I don’t approve of anything like that, but all’s fair in war,” replied the captain, who seemed to know all about it. “A loyal soldier wouldn’t have done it, but Beardsley and Shelby are civilians and the Yanks frightened them into it. However, they are working for our side as hard as they ever did, and that’s about all we care for.”
When the captain ceased speaking Mrs. Gray arose from the sofa and went to Marcy’s room to pack a valise for him. There were no traces of tears on her white, set face, and her step was as firm as it ever was. She was bearing up bravely, for she had long schooled herself for just such a scene as this. When she left the room the captain slipped his revolver into its holster, took possession of an easy-chair, and leaned back in it with a long-drawn sigh.
“I’d rather face a dozen Yanks than one woman,” said he. “I hope she’ll not break down when she bids you good-by.”
“You need have no fears on that score,” answered Marcy. “I judge you don’t like the unpleasant work you are engaged in any too well, and my mother will do nothing to make it harder for you.”
“You’re mighty right, I don’t like it,” said the captain emphatically. “Any place in the world but an invalid corps. They have all the dirty work to do. It suits some cowards, but I’d rather be at the front, and there I hope to go next week. Well, corporal?” he added, turning to the man he had sent out of the room a few minutes before. “How many of them were there?”
“A dozen or so, sir, judging by the fight they made and the work they did,” replied the soldier.
“Are you speaking of my friends?” inquired Marcy, who now remembered that there had been something of a commotion outside the house. “Well, there were just three of them, not counting an unarmed negro boy.”
“Do you want me to believe that three conscripts could stand off twenty old soldiers?” demanded the corporal.
“Great Scott!” exclaimed Marcy, who was really surprised. “Did you bring twenty men here to capture me? You are a brave lot.”
“Braver than you who took to the woods to keep from going into the army,” answered the angry corporal. “We can’t find hair nor hide of them, sir,” he added, turning to his officer. “But they left us four dead men to remember them by, and nary one wounded.”