At sight of the blue figure he scarcely turned; then suddenly he recognized Nighthawk, and burst into laughter.
“Well, my blue night-bird!” he exclaimed, “here you are at last! What news? Is Grant going to cross the river?”
Nighthawk hung his head, and sighed audibly.
“I could not help it, general.”
“Why didn’t you come before?”
“It was impossible, general.”
Stuart shook his head.
“Strike that word out of your dictionary, my friend."{1}
{Footnote 1: His words.}
“That is good advice, general; but this time they nonplussed me. They blocked every road, and I had to join their army.”