returned to the breastwork. The two officers were slowly ascending the
hill, side by side, the bearer of the flag, now easily distinguishable
in his jaunty uniform as a captain of cavalry, talking, and the
lieutenant in faded gray, faced with yet more faded red, walking beside
him with a face white even at that distance, and lips shut as though
they would never open again. They halted at the big bowlder which the
Colonel had indicated, and the lieutenant, having saluted ceremoniously,
turned to come up to the camp; the Colonel, however, went down to meet
him. The two men met, but there was no spoken question; if the Colonel
inquired it was only with the eyes. The lieutenant spoke, however. "He
says," he began and stopped, then began again--"he says, General Lee--"
again he choked, then blurted out, "I believe it is all a lie--a damned
lie."

"Not dead? Not killed?" said the Colonel, quickly.

"No, not so bad as that; surrendered: surrendered his entire army at
Appomattox day before yesterday. I believe it is all a damned lie," he
broke out again, as if the hot denial relieved him. The Colonel simply
turned away his face and stepped a pace or two off, and the two men
stood motionless back to back for more than a minute. Then the Colonel
stirred.

"Shall I go back with you?" the lieutenant asked, huskily.

The Colonel did not answer immediately. Then he said: "No, go back to
camp and await my return." He said nothing about not speaking of the
report. He knew it was not needed. Then he went down the hill slowly
alone, while the lieutenant went up to the camp.

The interview between the two officers beside the bowlder was not a long
one. It consisted of a brief statement by the Federal envoy of the fact
of Lee's surrender two days before near Appomattox Court-House, with the
sources of his information, coupled with a formal demand on the Colonel
for his surrender. To this the Colonel replied that he had been detached
and put under command of another officer for a specific purpose, and
that his orders were to hold that pass, which he should do until he was
instructed otherwise by his superior in command. With that they parted,
ceremoniously, the Federal captain returning to where he had left his
horse in charge of his companions a little below, and the old Colonel
coming slowly up the hill to camp. The men were at once set to work to
meet any attack which might be made. They knew that the message was of
grave import, b