"Don't exactly admire my color of uniform, do you?" I asked easily. "Well, I can't help that, and you'll not find me such a bad fellow if you act right. Where were you going in such a hurry?"
There was no answer. I could hear his rapid breathing, and catch a glimpse of a beardless cheek.
"Don't you intend to tell me?"
Still silence, the shapeless figure motionless.
"Come, Billie," I urged, "what is the use of keeping up this game?"
He straightened up in surprise, startled into speech.
"You--you call me what? Why do you say 'Billie'?"
"Because I'm on. I haven't been hanging to the back of this outfit for the last eight miles just for fun, or exercise either. I'm after those despatches you're taking to Beauregard."
"Oh!"
"That's the state of affairs, and the sooner you hand over those particular papers, Billie, the quicker this revolver play ends. Where are they?"