"Well, as near as I can find out, they hate it like blazes, and it makes some of them real heartsick." "Good! I am glad of it! I am getting back pay for my trouble now!" "Did you help take the place?" "No, I did not help to take it, but I was chief of the signal corps, and signaled the town all night. I had nearly all the ladies of the town out, and had them watching the movements of the Yankees. We sent up rockets, every hour, all night. I tell you, I felt _so much_ relieved at the approach of General Van Dorn, and when he captured the Yankees I was _perfectly delighted_! Then I just _went_ for things! I had four mules and a yoke of steers and a cart in there, and I just _loaded them down_ with stuff! I got a hundred overcoats, and lots of pants and blankets, and nice canvased hams, and other things, until I had the garret of my house _stowed full_." "Did you do _all that alone_?" "Oh, no! my husband, Captain McKisic, was there--he is captain of company A, of Bragg's 1st Battalion--and my servants were there, and they all helped. Oh, I really do wish that you could come into the house!" "There is no use talking about that, for the guard _won't let me_." "Well, I'll tell you," said she (casting her eyes at the man who was guarding her house, and speaking still lower); "I was suspicious that some of the Yankee soldiers might ransack my house and find out what stuff I had got, and so I went over to the Colonel of the --th Illinois Regiment and sung him a few songs of love, and he sent me over a guard, to keep the soldiers from going into my house." "You are all right, then, if you keep things to yourself." "I can do that, I assure you; I have run with the army almost two years, and I have learned how to do that." "_Come_, prisoner," said Levi, manifesting impatience; "a'n't you getting about through with your conversation?" "Wait! wait a minute, if you please, guard," said the lady, and away she went into the house. She soon returned with a lot of apples, and commenced to stuff them into my pockets. "There, you eat them yourself. Give the guard these _three little ones_; don't give him any more; eat those nice ones yourself. But, pray tell me, what is your situation for money?" "I have got about five dollars." "Is that all? Really, that a'n't enough! Sha'n't I help you to some? I am sure that you can't get along with that?" "No, I thank you; I can get along in some way." "_Do_ let me help you; I have got three thousand dollars in the house, and I'd just as leave help you as not. _Do_ take some." "No; I won't take any. I might never return this way to repay it." "I should think that you might get away. Why don't you get paroled, or run away from that guard?" "I might, but, on account of a plan that I have got, I don't want to get away yet." "Why, what is it?" "Well, I'll tell you. I want to go with Grant's army to Lagrange, and see which way it goes from there, and then I'll come back and report it."