Of course this sudden movement on the part of Nettleton had thrown Walker violently upon his head, and, although he kicked, and squirmed and cursed, he was dragged along as if he had been a child.
When Nettleton reached the commander, he held the foot of Walker within a few inches of that officer’s face, and yelled:
“Look! look! General—see them boots!”
Notwithstanding the intense anxiety felt for the result of Nettleton’s search, the ridiculous figure he presented in his eagerness, and that of Walker who was twisting and struggling to escape, a general laugh ran through the division, which was joined in by the commander. Even Wells could not suppress a smile.
“And what about those boots?” asked the commander, after silence had been restored.
“Why, I’ve blacked them!” yelled Nettleton.
Another laugh was heard along the line.
“No doubt you have blacked them. But what of this?”
“Why, General, don’t you see them two hearts made with nails, on the sole of that boot?”
“Certainly I see them. And what then?”