‘Yes; and gave the despatch to General Jackson.’
‘The despatch? Ginrul Jackson? Luce, what air ye sayin’?’
‘I am telling you just what happened,’ answered Lucius. ‘Didn’t you miss it? The despatch, I mean. I found it in my pouch. We must have changed belts without knowing it in the darkness of the cave.’
‘Ye found the despatch, and ye got inter our lines, and ye gave it ter old Stonewall, I onderstand ye ter say!’ said Ephraim, still bewildered.
‘I did, all three.’ He laughed a low laugh of satisfaction.
‘Then why in thunder didn’t ye stay thar?’
‘Grizzly! Did you suppose that after all you have risked for me I would run away and leave you without trying to find out what had become of you? I had such a time with the General. He didn’t know me, not a little bit, and he wouldn’t hear of my coming back. But he was so kind, and when he saw how anxious I was about you, he actually came with me himself as far as the outposts to find out if any one had seen you come in where I did. And then’——He paused and gave another little laugh.
‘And then?’ queried Ephraim, who had listened to the recital in absolute silence.
‘Then I gave him the slip and bolted for the Federal lines. Some one gave the order to fire; but the General—I had told him who I was by that time—called out “Order—arms!” and I got clean away.’
‘And how did ye git ez fur ez this?’