"'Fishing! h—l and d—n! Must be crazy; no fish there.'
"'I've caught them in smaller streams than this,' drawled out Tom, turning at the same time his eyes upon the General, with a vacant stare. 'But then I had better bait. The ground about here is too mean for good red worms. Just look,' and Tom lifted up an old sardine box, half full of grubs, for the General to look at.
"'Crazy, by G—d, sir,' said the General, turning to his Aid, 'Demented! Demented! Might be a dangerous man in camp; must be attended to,' continued the General; striking, as he spoke, vigorous blows across his saddle-bow, with his gauntlet; Tom all the while waiting for a bite, with the patience of an old fisherman.
"It was after three in the afternoon, and the General took the bait.
"'Must be attended to. Dangerous man! dangerous man!' said he, adjusting his spectacles.
"'Your name and Regiment, sir?'
"Tom drawled them out, and the General directed his Aid to take them down.
"'Go to your Quarters, sir,' said the General.
"'Havn't caught anything yet, and hard tack is played out,' replied Tom.