Rives answered with eager anxiety. His words were not spoken in despair but with an undertone of desperate appeal.
"Dark days have come, General Stuart. And great events are pending.
Events of the utmost importance to the army, to the country, to General
Lee."
"Just say General Lee and let it go at that," Stuart laughed. "He is the army and the country."
He turned to Taylor.
"Where's Marse Robert?"
"Inspecting the lines. He fears a movement to turn our flank at
Spottsylvania Court House."
"My men are right there, watching like owls. They'll catch the first rustle of a leaf by Sheridan's cavalry."
"I hope so."
"Never fear. Well, Sweeney, while we wait for General Lee, Senator Rives needs a little cheer. We've medicine in that box for every ill that man is heir to. Things look black in Richmond, he tells us. All right. Give us the old familiar tune—Hard Times and Wuss Er Comin'!—Go it!"
Sweeney touched his strings sharply.