"It's all right," he said; "but I want to know, Mr. Elias Gardner and Mrs. Elias Gardner, what you mean by feeding the enemy."
"I'd sell to you at the same price," replied Prescott.
Some of the troopers were looking at the barrels and crates in the wagons to see if they were really empty, and Prescott was in dread lest they come upon the sleeping farmer; but they desisted soon, satisfied that there was nothing left to eat.
The Lieutenant cocked a shrewd eye on Prescott.
"So you've been in Richmond, Mr. Farmer; how long were you there?" he asked.
"Only a day."
"Don't you think it funny, Mr. Farmer, that you should go so easily into a town that armies of a hundred thousand men have been trying for more than two years to enter and have failed?"
"Maybe I showed better judgment," Prescott replied, unable to restrain a gibe.
The Lieutenant laughed.
"Perhaps you are right," he said; "but we'll have Grant soon. Now, Mr. Gardner, you've been in Richmond, and I've no doubt you used your eyes while you were there, for you look to me like a keen, observant man. I suspect that you could tell some interesting things about their earthworks, forts and so forth."