"No; I'll go and see him," said the General. "Where is he?"
With a foreboding that the scene was going to be made unpleasant for him, Billings led the General into the guard-room.
"Why, it's Shorty," said the General, recognizing him at once, "who ran back at Stone River, in a heavy fire, and helped me from under my horse."
Shorty winked and nodded affirmatively.
"What was the matter, Colonel?" inquired the General.
"Well," said Billings, defensively, "the feller is a straggler, without papers to show where he belonged, and he was very sassy to me—called me a liar, and said other mean things, right before my men, and I had to order him bucked-and-gagged to shut him up."
"Strange," said General; "I always found him very respectful and obedient. I thought I hadn't a better soldier in my brigade."
Shorty winked appreciatively at Serg't Elkins.