‘No, I didn’t,’ answered Lucius. ‘At least, only for a few steps, and then I made a break clean away. And I got through,’ he added proudly. ‘Through the ring thet was round ye?’ queried Ephraim, not understanding. ‘No,’ replied Lucius; ‘through their lines and into ours.’ ‘What! Ye—got—through—inter—our—lines?’ ‘Yes; and gave the despatch to General Jackson.’ ‘The despatch? Ginrul Jackson? Luce, what air ye sayin’?’ ‘I am telling you just what happened,’ answered Lucius. ‘Didn’t you miss it? The despatch, I mean. I found it in my pouch. We must have changed belts without knowing it in the darkness of the cave.’ ‘Ye found the despatch, and ye got inter our lines, and ye gave it ter old Stonewall, I onderstand ye ter say!’ said Ephraim, still bewildered. ‘I did, all three.’ He laughed a low laugh of satisfaction. ‘Then why in thunder didn’t ye stay thar?’ ‘Grizzly! Did you suppose that after all you have risked for me I would run away and leave you without trying to find out what had become of you? I had such a time with the General. He didn’t know me, not a little bit, and he wouldn’t hear of my coming back. But he was so kind, and when he saw how anxious I was about you, he actually came with me himself as far as the outposts to find out if any one had seen you come in where I did. And then’——He paused and gave another little laugh. ‘And then?’ queried Ephraim, who had listened to the recital in absolute silence. ‘Then I gave him the slip and bolted for the Federal lines. Some one gave the order to fire; but the General—I had told him who I was by that time—called out “Order—arms!” and I got clean away.’ ‘And how did ye git ez fur ez this?’ ‘I sneaked through somehow. No one saw me. I heard a shot; but it was not fired at me, and I made for this cabin as fast as I could; for I thought you would be here if anywhere.’ The Grizzly bent forward with his head upon his arms and groaned aloud. ‘What is it?’ asked Lucius sympathetically. ‘Does your wound hurt you?’ ‘Wound!’ moaned Ephraim. ‘D’ye s’pose I’m thinkin’ about thet et sech a time ez this? No, Luce, it’s you. That ye should git off safe and all, and then start out to come back fer me. Oh, bub, why did ye do it? Why did ye do it?’ ‘Why shouldn’t I?’ ‘And ye don’t seem ter know thet ye’ve done anythin’ out er the way,’ said Ephraim in a wondering tone. ‘Grizzly, old stick, wouldn’t you have done as much for me?’ ‘Thet’s different. I brought ye out, and it war my duty ter git ye home agen ef it war anyways possible. Ye got yerself the best part er the way—inter our lines, thet is—and now ye’ve been and run yer head inter the hornet’s nest agen. And all fer me—all fer me. Luce, ye didn’t orter hev done it. I warn’t wuth it, Luce.’ He sprang to his feet and groped in the darkness for his friend. ‘I’ll never fergit what ye’ve done fer me this day. Never ez long ez I live.’ His voice faltered, and he wrung the younger boy’s hand in silence.