It was a foolish proceeding, for they had been seen before they took flight, and had they remained perfectly still, they would have had a better chance of escaping unfavourable observation. As it was, their hasty action condemned them. Around the short arm of the wood, described above, swept a column of infantry, and as soon as the officer in command saw, as he supposed, two Federal soldiers in full flight, he very naturally roared out ‘Halt!’ at the top of his voice. Ephraim and Lucius, however, paid no attention to this courteous invitation, but continued their race towards the friendly shelter at top speed.
But they were soon brought up standing. ‘If you don’t stop,’ shouted the officer, ‘I’ll fire on you. Halt!’ And thus adjured, the fugitives unwillingly checked their flight and stood still.
‘Never mind, Luce,’ muttered Ephraim; ‘we kin bluff ’em, I reckon.’
‘Why didn’t you stop when I ordered you?’ demanded the officer roughly as he came up.
The boys were silent. To give the true reason was not at all to their taste, and no other seemed just then to fit the circumstances. However, the officer went on without waiting for a reply to his first question:
‘Where were you running to?’
‘Makin’ fer our lines, major,’ replied Ephraim, recognising the officer’s rank.
‘So. What is your regiment?’
‘The “Trailing Terrors.”’
The major laughed. ‘As usual,’ he said, ‘with their backs the wrong way. Fall in here, both of you.’