"From being shot and drowned and killed. Oh, I solemnly swear that I will never have anything more to do with this soldier business. It is only run, run, from beginning to end, and then plunging head first into a muddy stream. Oh, I'll quit it, I'll quit it. Heaven forgive me, Uncle Dan!" he cried vehemently.
"This is sorry business, Diggs. What war ye doing?" said Uncle Dan seriously.
"Running for my life," answered Diggs.
"Get up, Diggs," said the old scout solemnly.
The little fellow arose, looking more like a school-boy who was going to be thrashed.
"Diggs," said the old man, and there was not the slightest tinge of jest in his tones, "what war ye doing with the rebels?"
"If you please, sir,—hem, hem—" began Diggs, greatly confused, turning pale as death and beginning to tremble, "I—I—was taken prisoner with these two gentlemen," pointing to Corporal Grimm and Sergeant Swords.
"No, you were not," said both at once. "We were never taken prisoners."
"Oh, I beg your pardon—hem, hem!—gentlemen, please hear me through, and I can explain all this to you. I was taken prisoner by the rebels one night, when I went out with these two gentlemen, and they—hem, hem!—I mean the rebels, kept me for a long time until they made me go with them to-day, and you found me with them."