Stuart peered under the coal-scuttle bonnet.
"And this is your 'old woman' my friend," he said with a laugh.
"Jest so, sir," was the wheezy reply of the fat old countryman, smiling
sweetly. "You see she would come along, sir. Womankind is mighty
contrary!"
"A profound sentiment!" laughed Stuart, and riding on without further
words, he left the countryman free to proceed on his way.
We crossed a little stream, rode on toward Fleetwood, and had nearly
reached Brandy when Stuart suddenly reined in his horse.
"Do you know what I think," he said, "that I have done a foolish
thing?"
"What, general?"
"To let that old fellow go on. I don't like his looks."
"The old countryman?"
"Yes; I wish I had arrested him--him and his wife."
"Arrested them?"
Stuart nodded.
"I have an instinct about rascals, Surry; and something tells me that I
have been guilty of an imprudence."
"Was not his explanation satisfactory?"
"No."
"What could be wrong?"
"Everything."
"And his 'old woman,'" I said, laughing; "think of that highly
respectable dame."
"I like her least of all!"
"From instinct?"
"If you choose."
"I think your instinct misleads you this time, general."
"I think not."
"Well, we will see."
And we did see.
In two hours the head-quarters tents were pitched upon Fleetwood Hill
beyond Brandy, and Stuart sent his provost marshal to Culpeper
Court-House, with orders to conduct the prisoner taken by Mohun on the
preceding night, to General Lee, for examination.
Pages:
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40