“Shucks! You couldn’t tell, to save your life if a corn row was laid off straight or not.”
“No matter for that,” said Tom sharply. “As long as I hold the position I can live at home and show myself openly; and that’s more than you can do. Have you seen that converted Confederate and his Yankee friend lately?”
“Who’s them?” inquired Lambert.
“Why, Ned Griffin and Rodney Gray.”
“Oh, yes; I see ’em every day ’most. They’re livin’ down there snug as you please, an’ as often as I——”
“Go on,” said Tom, when the man paused suddenly. “As often as you what?”
“As often as I want to see ’em I see ’em,” added Lambert.
“That isn’t what you were about to say at first,” replied Tom. “I hope you are not a friend of theirs?”
“Look a-here, cap’n, wasn’t I first leftenant of the Home Guards?”
“You were, and a very good officer you made, except when you took it upon yourself to act without waiting for orders from me; and then you always brought yourself into trouble. Can you be trusted?”