The corporal who had shown us to Amory's tent was on "sick-report" he said, with chills and fever. He, with three or four others, remained in charge of camp, and I amused myself listening to their talk about their officers and the Ku-Klux. An old darky on a mule came in to sell chickens, and after him, a seedy-looking fellow on a shaggy pony,--he "didn't want nothing in particular, unless it was to know when the captain'd be back."
The corporal was non-committal,--didn't know. The seedy party shifted around in his saddle, and, after profuse expectoration, "reckoned that the lieutenant warn't much hurt nohow."
"That don't prove anything," says the dragoon.
"Ain't gone far, I reckon; didn't take no rations, did he?"
"I kind of wondered _why_ he took the north road _fur_, if he wanted to catch the captain, 'cause I knew _he_ was out towards Guntown."
The corporal looks steadily at Seedy, and is apparently suspicious. Seedy turns his quid over with his tongue and looks all around. He's a bad hand at extracting information, at all events. At last he makes another venture.
"Wish I knew how far up the north road the lieutenant went. I've got some business up towards the Tennessee. I belong to a missionary society hereabouts, and yet I don't like to take that long ride alone."
I hear the corporal mutter a rather unflattering comment on _that_ statement; and it occurs to me that there is more of the odor of bad whiskey than sanctity about the member of the missionary society. He reminds me of Mr. Stiggins; and Mr. Stiggins makes one more attempt.
"Whar am I most like to catch the boys by dinner-time?"
The member looks incredulous and indignant; and after a long survey of every object in range about the camp, turns his dejected steed slowly around and shambles off, with the parting shot,--
"Reckon you never _did_ know nothin', did you?" To which the corporal responds,--
"No; and if I _did_, I wouldn't tell you, Johnny."
Stiggins strikes a canter on reaching the main road, and disappears on the trail of the cavalry. Presently Harrod returns, greatly surprised at Amory's sudden expedition, and curious as to the source from which he derives his information. I hardly know what to say, but finally get out of it by the explanation that it was all "confidential," and that I could say nothing on the subject until his return.