“What have you there?” asked Captain Somerville.
“Sure, ’tis me grocery store, sor. Coffee, tay, an’ sugar. Faith, I’ll make the devil’s mouth water like a baby cuttin’ his stomach tathe. Would ye mind comin’ along, sor, for to kape me from swindlin’ the Johnny out of all his belongin’s?”
II.
ON THE CONFEDERATE SIDE.
Three men sat in a gully that had once been a hillside ditch. Their uniforms were various, the result of accident and capture. One of them wore a very fine blue overcoat which was in queer contrast to his ragged pantaloons. This was Lieutenant Clopton, who had charge of the picket line. Another had on the uniform of an artilleryman, and his left arm was in a sling. He had come out of the hospital to do duty as a guide. This was Private John Fambrough. The third had on no uniform at all, but was dressed in plain citizen’s clothes, much the worse for wear. This was Jack Kilpatrick, scout and sharp-shooter. Happy Jack, as he was called.
How long since the gully had been a ditch it would be impossible to say, but it must have been a good many years, for the pines had grown into stout trees, and here and there a black-jack loomed up vigorously.
“Don’t git too permiscus around here,” said Happy Jack, as the others were moving about. “This ain’t no fancy spot.” He eased himself upward on his elbow, and made a swift but careful survey of the woodland vista that led to the Federal lines. Then he shook down the breech of his rifle, and slipped a long cartridge into its place. “You see that big poplar over yonder? Well, under that tree there’s a man, leastways he ought to be there, because he’s always hangin’ around in front of me.”
“Why don’t you nail him?” asked Fambrough.