I think that Wemyss was not well pleased with the reminder that he had not been lucky on the Pee Dee. At any rate he did not take the hint to ask further questions. He was already on his feet and he answered that he thought that he now had all that he wanted. “If I don’t do it with what I know,” he continued rather sulkily, “I shall not do it at all. And by your leave, my lord,” he continued, moving towards the door, “I will lose no more time. My horses are outside and it will be as much as I can do to overtake my men. We can’t go by the cross-cuts and wood-roads that these d—d fellows use.” “Nor by the marshes,” some one said, hinting slyly at his Pee Dee campaign. “No, we are not web-footed,” Wemyss grunted. “Well, very good,” my lord answered indulgently. “Go, by all means, and good luck to you, Wemyss. Catch that d—d fellow Sumter if you can! By G—d, I hope you may, and good luck to you!” We echoed the wish, one after another. My lord rose from the table, others rose. There was a little confusion. I turned to say a word to my snuff-taking neighbor, but he had turned his shoulder towards me and was already on his feet, speaking to Haldane, the General’s aide, who was between him and the door. Webster saw that I looked at him. He winked. “A good man that,” he said in a low voice. “He has given us a great deal of information, a vast lot of information. He comes from the other side of the hills on the Tennessee slope. He is a backwaters man, but he knows this country well. A strong King’s man and damned useful to us of late, d—d useful, I can tell you.” “If he comes from the Tennessee slope,” I said pricking up my ears, “he may know the place I was at. It’s on this side, but not far from the foot of the mountains. The man’s name was Wilmer—the man who took me. He treated me well, too, General, very well! Shall we ask him?” Webster was still in his seat at the table—a stout heavy man, slow in his movements, but shrewd and a very able soldier. He raised his voice. “Mr. Burton!” he cried. “Hie! I want you.” But Burton was now within a pace or two of the door. He did not hear, and would have escaped if he had not been forced to give place to the Chief who was in the act of passing out at that moment. This detained Burton, but for an instant only—he seemed to be in a great hurry; and seeing this and that in another moment he would be gone, Webster appealed to Haldane who was also going out. “Haldane!” he cried. “Stop Mr. Burton! I want to speak to him. Damme, has the man turned deaf all in a minute! What has come to him? Here, bring him back!” The aide did as he was told, tapping his man on the shoulder, and pointing to us. “The Brigadier wants you,” he said. “He’s speaking to you.” “D—n the man, he’s as deaf as a post! Mr. Burton!” Webster cried. “Mr. Burton! One minute! Didn’t you hear me call you? Major Craven wants to ask you a question.”