"Yes, I don't care if I do; and I should like right well to get some breakfast here, if you please, for I am mighty hungry." "Walk in; you shall have all the breakfast you want. Where do you belong?" "To Col. Vaughn's regiment, the 13th Tennessee." "You do?" "Yes." "Well, I belong to Colonel Strawl's regiment, the 4th Tennessee. I am a surgeon in that regiment; my name is Biggs. What is your name?" "My name is _Ruggles_. I am a brother to General Ruggles." "Is it possible! I know the General very well. What are you doing up here?" "I am going through the d--d Yankee lines to-day, if I can." "You are? A'n't you afraid they'll _get you_?" "No; I expect they'll get me into the guard-house, but I'll soon manage to get out." "Well, do the best that you can. If they _do_ get you into the guard-house, you sha'n't want for anything to eat. I'll see to that myself." Breakfast was announced as ready for me, and I sat up to the table. They had got me fried ham, baked sweet potatoes, warm biscuit with butter and honey, and coffee with sugar and cream. I think the condition of my appetite enabled me to do that meal ample justice. When I had finished, I asked the doctor how much I should pay him. "Oh, Lord! not a cent! Do you think I'd charge one of our soldiers for a meal of victuals! I feel thankful that I have it to give you!" Then turning, and pointing toward the pickets, he said, "But them d--d Yankee thieves down there I make pay me fifty cents for a meal of nothing but bread and meat!" "You've got them rightly named, doctor," said I; "for they took my revolver and my money, and every thing else I had, away from me this morning." "You needn't be surprised at such treatment as that," said he; "for there are officers down there that would steal the Lord's supper, and men that would steal the table-cloths!" "You are about right, doctor; but I see they are looking as if uneasy about me, and I must go back." "Well," said he, "if you get into trouble, I'll do all I can for you. I have got things fixed pretty smooth between me and the pickets, and I think I can help you carry out your plans." "Haven't you taken the _oath_, doctor?" "Oh, yes! I had to do that in order to get along smoothly." "Well, you be careful and not get yourself into any scrape by it. I would advise you to say nothing, and if I get into the guard-house, you see that I get plenty to eat, and I'll wriggle out some way." I then bid him good-by, and returned to my position by the tree. When the new pickets came out to relieve the old ones, two of the old guards took me in to the Provost-marshal. As I entered his office, I was saluted by, "Well, old hoss, who are you?" "I am an Arkansas school-master," I replied. "What do you want?" "I want to see General Hurlbut." "What do you want of General Hurlbut?" "I want to see him. I've heard that he's a very red-faced man, and I want to see for myself how he looks!"