"I'm goin' to get my papa," said the tiny swordsman.
The officers all broke into a murmur of mingled admiration and amusement.
"No, we ain' goin' let the Yankees have our papa," chimed in Evelyn, pushing her tangled hair out of her eyes, and keeping fast hold of Charlie's hand for fear of the horses around her.
The General dismounted.
"How are you going to help, my little Semiramis?" he asked, stooping over her, with smiling eyes.
"I'm goin' to give 'em my dolly if they will give me my papa," she said, gravely, as if she understood the equality of the exchange.
"Suppose you give a kiss instead?" There was a second of hesitation, and then she put up her little face, and the old General dropped on one knee in the road and lifted her in his arms, doll and all.
"Gentlemen," he said to his staff, "you behold the future defenders of the Union."