Thurston caught the speech and, before the soldier could answer, bawled at the negro, “Come here and take hold of these things, and don’t stand there interfering with the men.” The darky looked at him in blank amazement.
“Who? Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“Not me; you don’t know who I am!” He reared himself back and stuck his thumbs in his armholes.
“No, and I don’t care a hang either,” said the little Captain. “Sergeant, make that man take hold of those things and put them in place.”
“I’m Senator Ash,” declared the man, surlily, swelling with importance, and turning to walk away.
“Halt, there,” said the soldier, coldly.
Nicholas Ash turned at the tone, to find the sergeant quietly taking his pistol from the holster.
“You come back here.”