‘So you see,’ General Shields was saying, ‘it is of the highest importance that what we could not do for him to-day, General Frémont should do for us to-morrow. Whatever be the result of to-day’s fight at Cross Keys, he must effect a junction with me to-morrow, and to that end those despatches, detailing my plans, must be in his hands to-night. I know it is difficult; but do you not think’—— The rest of the sentence was lost in the distance, as the two passed on.
‘Shall we get through the window now?’ asked Lucius, as the voices died away.
‘I reckon not,’ returned Ephraim; ‘they might see us from the other side. Better stay whar we air till they air out er sight. They’re not thinkin’ er us jest now.’
‘What were they talking about?’ inquired Lucius, who, having been further from the door, had not heard the conversation so perfectly.
‘I dunno rightly; but it’s suthin’ about gittin’ word over ter Frémont about ter-morrer’s fight. Sh! Hyar they come back again. Now, lemme do the talkin’ ef they come in.’
This time it was the voice of the civilian that reached them. ‘I’ve done it before in the boat, general,’ he was saying, ‘and I don’t know what is to hinder me doing it again.’
‘Well, I don’t want to confuse you with suggestions,’ said General Shields in reply. ‘You know your own business too well for that. You are sure the boat is there?’
‘It was there two hours ago, snug under the bank. I don’t see why it shouldn’t be there now.’
‘Oh yes; and theirs too, unless it has been changed since this morning.’
They came to a halt opposite the door of the cabin, behind the door of which Ephraim instantly flattened himself, while Lucius stood stiffly erect in a corner.
The general began to laugh. ‘If you can take a dip down, and learn anything of Jackson’s intentions before you return, you admirable civilian, I shall be all the more pleased,’ he said. Then noting the look of surprise on his companion’s face, he added hastily: ‘I was laughing at the recollection of a ridiculous incident which happened in there this morning. I’ll tell you as we go along.’ And taking the civilian by the arm, he continued his walk in the direction of the camp.
Ephraim stole a cautious glance round the post of the door. ‘By time!’ he grinned, when they were out of earshot. ‘Ef he’d come in and suspected we’d heard thet pretty bit of news, I reckon he’d hev larft the wrong side of his mouth.’