He had gone but a few paces when an
exclamation from the quondam Third cavalryman called him back, and ended
for the moment the laughter.

"Where does the old fellow live, Corporal?"

"Keep out that lane to the left, then across lots by a narrow path.
Can't miss it. He has no more horses."

"Don't want horses."

"That apple brandy it's no use trying for."

"Boys," said the Captain, "I'm good for half a dozen canteens of the
stuff, I'll bet my boots on it. Who'll go along?"

"I," replied a sturdy brother Captain.

"Recollect now. All here at nine to-night to receive our report. No use
to tell you that, though, when whiskey is about," said the first
Captain, as the crowd dispersed.

And that report was given by his comrade to the punctual crowd as
follows:

"When I came out to the charred pine stumps on the lane, where I was to
meet the Captain, it was a little before dusk. I was just about clear of
the wood, when the Colonel's big black mare, ridden by the Captain, came
bouncing over a scrub pine and lit right in front of me. The d----l
himself couldn't have made me feel a colder shudder.

"'What's the matter? Where's your horse?'

"'I thought we had better walk,' said I, recovered from the fright;
'it's only a short distance.'

"'That ain't the thing. There must be some style about this matter.'

"I had noticed that the Captain had on the Colonel's fancy Regulation
overcoat, a gilt edged fatigue cap, his over-long jingling Mexican
spurs, and the Major's sabre dangling from his side. I came back, got
the Adjutant's horse, and rejoined him.

"'Now, I want you to understand,' said the Captain, putting on his
prettiest, as we jogged along the lane, 'that I'm General Burnside. How
does that strike you?'

"'That you don't look a d--n bit like Burney. He is no fancy man. Your
style is nearer the Prince's,--Fitz John. All you want are the yellow
kids,' rejoined I.

"'Too near home, that. How will Gen. Franklin do?'

"As I knew nothing about Franklin's appearance, I said I supposed that
would do. Before respectable people I'd have hated to see any of our
Generals wronged by the Captain's looks, but as it was only a Rebel, it
didn't make any difference. And then the object overcame all scruples.

"'Well,' continued the Captain, 'you are to be one of my aids. When we
get near the house, just fall back a pace or two.'

"And off he rode, the big mare trotting like an elephant, and keeping my
nag up to a gal