The general rubbed his forehead for a moment, then exclaimed,-- "It's a grand plan. They can do it if they have men enough. But I had no idea that Mitchel had such backing." How I did wish that he had! but I knew better. Then wheeling his chair directly in front, and fixing his eye steadily on me, he continued,-- "I am much obliged to you for this information. Now, sir, I want you to tell me just how many men you had on that train, and to describe each one so that I may know them when I get hold of them." This was too much! I answered, "General, I have freely told you whatever concerns only myself, because I thought you ought to know that I am a soldier under the protection of the United States government. But I am not base enough to describe my comrades." "Oh!" sneered he, "I don't know that I ought to have asked you that." "I think not, sir," I replied. "Well," retorted he, "you need not be so particular. I know all about it. Your leader's name is Andrews. What kind of a man is he?" I was thunderstruck! How should he have Andrews' name, and know him to be our leader? I never imagined what I afterwards found to be the true cause,--that Andrews had been captured, with documents in his possession which implicated him so completely that he acknowledged his name and the fact of his leadership. I had every confidence that _he_, at least, would escape and devise some means for our relief. So I answered boldly,-- "I can tell you only one thing about him, and that is, he is a man you will never catch." As I said this I thought I noticed a peculiar smile on the general's face, but he only replied,-- "That will do for you;" and turning to a captain who stood by, continued: "Take him to the hole,--you know where that is." With a military salute, the captain took me out of the room. There was an explanation of the general's smile! Before the door, heavily ironed, stood Andrews, waiting for an audience, and with him Marion Ross and John Wollam. I did not think it prudent to recognize them, nor they to recognize me, so we passed each other as strangers. CHAPTER IX. OTHER CAPTURES.