Frank looked, expecting to recognize the colonel by his noble bearing, or splendid uniform, or some striking marks.
"Where?" he asked, in doubt; for while a number of the men were in uniform, he knew these to be privates.
"There," said the sentry, pointing; "by that stump, near the yellow horse-blanket."
Frank looked again. The only man he could fix upon by the description was a young fellow, washing his face in a tin basin, and he felt that this could not be the colonel; but he did not like to appear dull, so he thanked the man and rode on, thinking he would go to the point indicated, and ask some one else to show him the officer.
He felt quite grand as he rode in among the men, who, he thought, would recognize his importance and treat him accordingly; but, as he passed on, instead of paying him the respect he had expected, they began to guy him with all sorts of questions.
"Hullo, bud, going to jine the cavalry?" asked one. "Which is oldest; you or your horse?" inquired another.
"How's pa—and ma?" "Does your mother know you're out?" asked others. One soldier walked up, and putting his hand on the bridle, proceeded affably to ask him after his health, and that of every member of his family. At first Frank did not understand that they were making fun of him, but it dawned on him when the man asked him solemnly:
"Are there any Yankees around, that you were running away so fast just now?"
"No; if there were I'd never have found you here," said Frank, shortly, in reply; which at once turned the tide in his favor and diverted the ridicule from himself to his teaser, who was seized by some of his comrades and carried off with much laughter and slapping on the back.
"I wish to see Colonel Marshall," said Frank, pushing his way through the group that surrounded him, and riding up to the man who was still occupied at the basin on the stump.