"We took about five hundred guerillas prisoners, and—"
"Guerillas! Do you dare to call our troops—Oh! pshaw, go on,—what did you do?"
"We took about five hundred guerillas prisoners, and to keep them from eating up our rations, marched them back into Tennessee, where they belonged."
"And confiscated their horses and their money?"
"No, we turned their horses loose; that was all. I never heard anything about any money," answered Artie, promptly.
He tried to appear at ease, but he was much worried. The veteran of the Mexican War was turning out to be a strong Southern sympathizer. It looked as if there might be trouble before he left the house.
"I understand some of the soldiers had their money taken from them. But that was to be expected of the Yankees—they don't know what honor is."
"Colonel Bradner, I did not come here to be insulted!" exclaimed Artie, leaping to his feet. "I have answered your questions, now I would like you to answer mine. What about this road in front of your house? Is it the main road, or is it not?"
"It is the main road—to my plantation."
"Then the other road is the main road?"