ike a robin's. "And he isn't crazy?"

"Not in the very least."

"Well, I've had my doubts. I am glad to hear you say that. I want to
think mighty well of the man who leads me. That Romney trip now?--of
course, I only heard Loring's side. He doesn't just wind in and out of
mountains for the fun of doing it?"

"I think that, generally speaking, he has some other object in view,
sir. I think that acquaintance with General Jackson will show you what I
mean. It develops confidence in a very marked fashion."

Ewell listened bright-eyed. "I am glad to hear you say that, for damn
me, confidence is what I want! I want, sir, to be world-without-end-sure
that my commanding officer is forever and eternally right, and then I
want to be let go ahead!--I want to be let feel just as though I were a
captain of fifty dragoons, and nothing to do but to get back to post by
the sunset gun and report the work done!--And so you think that when my
force and old Jackson's force get together we'll do big things?"

"Fairly big, sir. It is fortunate to expect them. They will arrive the
sooner."

Ewell bobbed his head. "Yes, yes, that's true! Now, major, I'm going to
review the troops this morning, and then I'll write an answer for
General Jackson, and you'll take it to him and tell him I'm coming on by
Stanardsville, just as he says, and that I'll rest on Sunday. Maybe even
we'll find a church--Presbyterian." He rose. "You'd better come with
me.--I've got some more questions to ask. Better see my troops, too. Old
Jackson might as well know what beautiful children I've got. Have you
any idea yourself what I'm expected to do at Stanardsville?"

"I don't know what General Jackson expects, sir. But my own idea is that
you'll not be long at Stanardsville."

"He'll whistle again, will he?"

"I think so. But I speak without authority."

"There's an idea abroad that he means to leave the Valley--come
east--cross the mountains himself instead of my crossing them. What do
you think of that?"

"I am not in his council, sir. The Valley people would hate to see him
go."

"Well, all that I can say is that I hope Banks is puzzled, too!--Jim,
Jim! damn you, where's my sword and sash?"

As they went Ewell talked on in his piping voice. "General Jackson
mustn't fling my brigades against windmills or lose them in the
mountains! I'm fair to confess I feel anxious. Out on the plains when we
chase Apaches we chase 'em! We don't go deviating like a love