"All right. We'll come over. Don't fire again."
The pilot swung the barge over toward the south shore, the bushwhackers following her down the bank until she touched the land. Then the chief, accompanied by about half of his villainous-looking followers, sprang aboard.
"I'm Captain John C. Calhoun Yeager, u' the Confederate States army," said he, pompously, throwing out his chest as he confronted Captain Lamont.
"Heaven pity the Confederate States army, then!" muttered the mate, who was standing behind him.
"What's that?" demanded Yeager, turning sharply.
"I said, sir, that the Confederate States Army is honored," replied the mate, meekly.
"Oh!" said the guerilla chief, mollified. "You bet."
He smoothed down his coat with a satisfied air, then resumed to Captain Lamont,
"I'm gonta search this yere boat fer Yankee soldiers, an' if anybody peeps he'll git plugged full o' holes."
Wallace, who was standing beside Al, turned pale, for he knew not what this might mean for him. He was in uniform and there was no escape, as Yeager immediately pointed to him and continued,