"No higher than Daniel deserves," was the airy reply. "My brother is a great soldier, were his real ability recognized."
"No doubt he is a big man,—if General Bragg trusts him to do his scouting for him. It's hard work to play the part of a spy in a Union camp, I can tell you that."
"Daniel is fully equal to the task," said the lady.
She seemed totally ignorant of the fact that Artie was "drawing her out," and that she was letting her tongue run altogether too fast. Her brother had told her something of his mission, and she wanted this Northern mudsill to know what an important man that brother really was.
"Perhaps your brother won't get back into the Confederate lines to tell all that he has learned," continued Artie.
"He'll be back to-morrow morning. He has a first-class horse, and the Union password, and he—"
"Martha! What are you doing down there?" came in the voice of Colonel Dick Bradner, as he appeared at the head of the cellar stairs. "I thought you promised Dan to leave the prisoner alone for the present."
"I am not hurting him—nor is he hurting me," called back Mrs. Bradner.
"I wouldn't talk too much to him—at least, not about our affairs or Dan's."
"Colonel, I am able to manage for myself," was the icy response to this suggestion. "If it had not been for me we would not have captured this—this good-for-nothing Yankee."