“The Divvle an’ Tom Walker!” exclaimed O’Halloran. “’Tis quite a family rayanion, sor.”
“I don’t know whether to make myself known or not. What could have possessed them to stay here? I’ll see whether they know me.” As they went forward, the captain plucked O’Halloran by the sleeve. “I’ll be shot if the Johnny with his arm in the sling isn’t my brother.”
“I was expectin’ it, sor,” said the big Irishman, giving matters a humorous turn. “Soon the cousins will be poppin’ out from under the bushes.”
By this time the two were near enough to the approaching Confederates to carry on a conversation by lifting their voices a little.
“Hello, Johnny,” said O’Halloran.
“Hello, Yank,” replied Kilpatrick.
“What’s the countersign, Johnny?”
“Tobacco. What is it on your side, Yank?”
“Tay an’ coffee, Johnny.”
“You are mighty right,” Kilpatrick exclaimed. “Stack your arms agin a tree.”