“Lor, no, suh! I des now come right straight fum Georgy. Mistiss—she Marse Dave Henry’s ma—she hear talk dat de solyers ain’t got no cloze fer ter w’ar an’ no vittles fer ter eat, skacely, an’ she tuck’n made me come an’ fetch ’im a box full er duds an’ er box full er vittles. She put cake in dar, yit, ’kaze I smelt it whiles I wuz handlin’ de box. De boxes, dey er dar at de camp, an’ here me, but wharbouts is Marse Dave Henry? Not ter be a-hidin’ fum somebody, he de hardest white man ter fin’ what I ever laid eyes on. I speck I better be knockin’ ’long. Good-by, marster; good-by, young mistiss. Ef I don’ fin’ Marse Dave Henry no wheres, I’ll know whar ter come an’ watch fer ’im.”
The Squire watched the negro disappear in the woods, and then turned to his daughter. To his surprise, her eyes were full of tears; but before he could make any comment, or ask any question, he heard the noise of tramping feet in the woods, and presently saw two Union soldiers approaching. Almost immediately Julia called his attention to three soldiers coming from the Confederate side.
“I believe in my soul we’re surrounded by both armies,” remarked the Squire dryly. “But don’t git skeer’d, honey. I’m goin’ to see what they’re trespassin’ on my premises for.”
IV.
COMMERCE AND SENTIMENT.
“Upon my sowl,” said O’Halloran, as he and Captain Somerville went forward, the big Irishman leading the way, “I’m afeard I’m tollin’ you into a trap.”
“How?” asked the captain.
“Why, there’s three of the Johnnies comin’, sor, an’ the ould man an’ the gurrul make five.”
“Halt!” said the captain, using the word by force of habit. The two paused, and the captain took in the situation at a glance. Then he turned to the big Irishman, with a queer look on his face.
“What is it, sor?”
“I’m in for it now. That is my father yonder, and the young lady is my sister.”