"Ye—es," gasped Bob.
"Your mother's been out here, looking for you, I guess," said the soldier, with much friendliness.
"I rec—reckon so," panted Bob, moving toward the door. Did that mean that his father was caught? He opened the door, and slipped quietly into the corridor.
General Denby still sat silent before the hall-fire. Bob listened at the chamber-door. His mother was weeping; his father stood calm and resolute before the fire. He had determined to give himself up.
"If you only did not have on those clothes!" sobbed Mrs. Stafford. "If I only had not cut up the old uniform for the children!"
"Mother! mother! I have one!" gasped Bob, bursting into the room and tearing off the unknown major's uniform.
VIII
SANTA CLAUS SURRENDERS
Ten minutes later Colonel Stafford, with a steady step and a proud carriage, and with his hand resting on Bob's shoulder, walked out into the hall. He was dressed in the uniform of a Confederate major, which fitted admirably his tall, erect figure.