“It is; what can I do for you, my boy? You look as if you had been seeing hard times.” “I have,” answered Calhoun; “I have just escaped from the North. I am one of Morgan’s men.” “Are you one of the officers who escaped with Morgan?” asked the General, with much interest. “Yes and no. I was not in prison with Morgan, but I escaped South with him.” “I had a nephew with Morgan,” continued the General. “We have not heard from him since Morgan was captured. The report is that he was killed in the last fight that Morgan had before he was captured. Poor Cal!” and the General sighed. “Uncle Dick, do you not know me?” asked Calhoun, in a broken voice. General Shackelford stared at Calhoun in astonishment. “It cannot be, yes, it is Cal!” he exclaimed, and the next moment he had Calhoun by the hand, and was nearly shaking it off. “And you have been in a Northern prison, have you?” asked the General. “No, but I was wounded near unto death. Fortunately I fell into kind hands.” “But your looks, Cal; you are nothing but skin and bones.” “No wonder. I have not had enough to eat in the last seven days to keep a bird alive. Then I was none too strong when I started on my journey south.” “Tell me about it some other time,” said the General. “What you want now is rest and something to eat.” And rest and food Calhoun got. When he came to tell his story it was listened to with wonder. He was taken to General Joseph E. Johnston, then in command of the Confederate forces around Dalton, and the story was repeated. “You know, I presume,” said Johnston, “that Morgan escaped, and is now in Richmond.” “Yes, I long to be with him,” answered Calhoun. “I feel as strong as ever now.” “Do not be in a hurry to report,” said Johnston. “Wait until you hear from me.” In a few days Calhoun received a message from General Johnston saying he would like to see him. Calhoun lost no time in obeying the summons. He was received most cordially. “In the first place, Captain,” said the General, “allow me to present you this,” and he handed him his commission as captain in the Confederate army. Calhoun choked, he could only stammer his thanks. But what came next astonished him still more. “I now offer you the position of Chief of the Secret Service of my army,” said the General. “After listening to your story, although you are young, I believe there is no officer in the army more capable of filling it.” Calhoun knew not what to say; it was a place of the greatest honor, but he hated to leave Morgan. “Will you let me consult my uncle before I give an answer?” asked Calhoun. “Most certainly,” replied the General.