The Deserter, and Other Stories

k, it needed no second glance to tell him that he had to deal with a scoundrel. A threatening and formidable scoundrel he seemed, too

ewness showed that he was a fresh recruit. His badge was the Maltese cross of the Fifth Corps, and

nd himself thinking that he probably belonged to that Ohio regiment w

y!" the man re

rom the haversack sl

g at the pile in the corner of the earthwork. "I haven'

business have you got here?" the other

came here by tumbling head over heels down that hill there, right spang from top to bottom." He took courag

on, and Lafe drew forth the bread again. It was dry and tasteless enough, but he almost forgo

and seemed to be trying to make out whether anything was missing. He gr

t you?" he said roughly

is mouth was too full to talk. "Boyce's

I asked. What's

ent," replied Lafe. "I

taken a few loitering steps about the enclosure, and confronted Lafe again, his tone was less quarrelsome.

s there when I left it, but it ain't there no

?" the man demanded, onc

. "Our folks were skedaddling and the

rows in thought meanwhile. From time to time he paused to ask other questions, as to which way the pe

dered. The whole thing was very hard to make out. More than once he had had it in mind to say that he had left another member of the

f the man restrained him. He could not but remember what Foldeen had hint

tough fighting right here," he v

He seemed not averse to a little talk,

in the woods like this, you can't make head nor tail of how things go, or who's on top,

muster. He could not help feeling that there was a good deal of stupidity in the stare under which he bore up. The ma

stared Lafe out of countenance

ines," he repeated. How strange it was! All at once, like a flash, Lafe remembered having seen this man before. That slow, sulky wavering of a g

ad, cooped up in its earth-huts all the way from Culpeper Court House to Brandy Station. Lafe had gone over on leave one afternoon to the corps

by the enlistment bureaus. Among these new-comers were many good citizens and patriots; but there were also a great many cowards and a considerable

ance was needed. Their best chance to run away was offered by picket duty, when they found them

ll day, and at night patrolled the uttermost confines of the great camp, watching with all their eyes and ears, r

for a Friday to pass without the spectacle of summary punishment being meted out to some captured de

uarters, fascinated by the idea that inside the log shanty, where the two sentinels with fixed bayo

d the common feeling of the army in making pets of the drummer-boys, h

sh stubble of beard on jaws and cheek. There may have been some rough jest passed by the other prisoners i

oy marvelling that a man could grin in presence

some recollection of having heard that these particular prisoners were reprieved, or had succeeded in escaping from their log jail. His m

ot resist the temptation to ven

to us from the old First Corps, ain't you?" he

tly to the sounds of battle in the air. These were reduced now to faint, far-a

remarked. He added, with a bragging air: "I was all through the Payne's

ch we try to convey by the word humph! "So was I," h

rge and 'listed agai

he gaze of a vicious ox. He seemed satisfied at length with the artlessness

with yourself?" he abruptly

xt best thing is to try and find some other brigade's headquarters. It's all clear enough outside here now. I guess I'

of knapsacks, as if

u can't take no more of them rations, and you

"Why not?" he asked, with

n't," the other

then?" Lafe in

sies in about another minute, if you don't mind your own busin

at way?" said Lafe. "I haven'

going to, either

ornamented with a good deal of chased silver. Lafe had seen pistols like this before, in the possession of offi

to calmness, as he observed the man push one of the hammers back with his thumb to full-cock

g loop of broad black silk braid hanging from its ring. He hel

mark. There were cold shivers through his veins, but he managed to

ely to git," said the other, making a

t this looking at the watch was buncombe. Men who rea

you," he said, with an immense effort at unconcern. "Even

d the man, eying him, "and it'll

to see his old mother sitting in the garden with the Book on her knees, and also the young Ohio officer, who somehow came in a

gain, and found himself able to look into the two bl

and he now saw distinctly that the two little upright steel nipples bore no caps.

If you'd been going to shoot, you'd have done it long ago. This thing doesn't scare m

you!" the other declared with angr

going to shoot, what are yo

agree not to hurt you, will you

as his contempt for this slow and shilly-shallying sor

t together over there, on the other side of the

nd shoved in one hand to burrow among its contents, while with his foot, as if by accident, he pu

crust he had found, Lafe felt embolde

e," he remarked, affably. "I suppose it wen

e. Then the furtive, mean grin curled over the lower part of his face. "Yes-it was thrown in," h

e crust over to select a place for the next bite. "Do I co

ed the man, after a moment's pause, "and I'll

tatively chewing on the hard bread. "A fellow can't be

ger of gittin' shot

then," Lafe s

akened suspicion. "Who said anything about hangin

o do, but Lafe could not hold himself fro

the Bount

d on battle-fields, don't they-specially w

himself in readiness as he spoke, and now he pounced do

had counted upon, and before Lafe had got erect he felt