"Frank, it's all over," exclaimed the Captain, in a broken voice. "We've surrendered, Frank."
He dropped his hand with a despairing gesture, and two big tears rolled from his eyes and coursed down his cheeks into his long, black beard. Then he straightened up and flashed an indignant glance at the Confederate officer.
"At all events, sir," he exclaimed, "you did not break through my line."
The Confederate bowed his head gravely.
"No, sir;" he replied, "we did not. You have fought nobly, splendidly, against superior numbers. The whole garrison has covered itself with honor."
The Captain seemed to be struck by his antagonist's politeness.
"Anyway," said he, "it is not so hard to surrender to a gentleman."
"Thank you, sir," the other answered. "Courage deserves at least the meed of praise. And now you will please be good enough to assemble your company from these various buildings and march them, under arms, to the vicinity of the court house. The building was fired by your men before we got in and it is now burning, but the formal surrender will occur as near to it as possible."