cap'n wants to see yer down to the
road."

"Just goin' down there. Say, you hain't got a spare hoss in your caravan,
have you? I'm gettin' amazin' tired."

"Come out, both of you. I can't stay here all day."

"Needn't wait for me; I'm in no hurry," answered the captain, as he
slowly emerged from the bushes, followed by Somers.

"But I shall wait for yer; and, if yer don't step along lively, I'll let
yer know how this cheese-knife feels."

"Don't distress yourself to do anything of the sort," said De Banyan; and
he hobbled along on his new-made cane.

A walk of a few rods brought them to the road, where the commander of the
company was impatiently awaiting their arrival. He looked daggers at the
travelers, and evidently intended to annihilate them by the fierceness of
his visage.

"Give an account of yourself," said he.

"We're no account," replied De Banyan.

"I've seen you before," continued the cavalry commander, gazing intently
at the captain.

"No; you saw me behind."

"That sounds like you. Why, really, it is Barney Marvel."

"Who?" demanded De Banyan with an expression of humor.

"Barney Marvel! Don't you know your own name? Give us your hand, Barney,"
added the officer, as he extended his own.

"Well, cap'n, perhaps I'm Barney what's-his-name; but, 'pon my word, I
don't think I am;" and De Banyan wore a troubled expression, even to the
eyes of his anxious companion.

"Don't be modest about it, Barney. You left us rather unceremoniously;
but I hope you'll be able to show that it was all right."

"'Pon my word it was all right, though I haven't the least idea what you
mean."

"Haven't you, indeed, Barney?" laughed the captain, who, in spite of his
present happy manner, was evidently as much puzzled as the other party.

"'Pon my word, I haven't."

"Do you mean to say you are not Barney Marvel, formerly a lieutenant in
the Third Tennessee?"

"Not if I know it."

"I suppose I understood your position, Barney; but I advise you not to
deny facts."

"I never deny facts, captain; you haven't told me your name yet."

"No need of that. Now, be honest, Barney. Tell us all about it. There
wasn't an officer in the regiment that didn't mourn you as a brother when
you left us."

"I'm very much obliged to them," replied De Banyan lightly; but even
Somers began to have some doubts in regard to his popular friend.

"How are Magenta, Solferino, and the Crimea, now-a-days?" demanded the
officer.

"