"Then light up, sir," said the General, "and sit down, I've been thinking lately of court-martialing you, but I decided to come 'round and talk it over with you first. That isn't strictly according to the rules of the service. Look here, Mr. Brice, why did you leave St. Louis?" "They began to draft, sir, and I couldn't stand it any longer." "But you wouldn't have been drafted. You were in the Home Guards, if I remember right. And Mr. Brinsmade tells me you were useful in many ways What was your rank in the Home Guards?" "Lieutenant colonel, sir." "And what are you here?" "A second lieutenant in temporary command, General." "You have commanded men?" "Not in action, sir. I felt that that was different." "Couldn't they do better for you than a second-lieutenancy?" Stephen did not reply at once, Mr. Brinsmade spoke up, "They offered him a lieutenant-colonelcy." The General was silent a moment: Then he said "Do you remember meeting me on the boat when I was leaving St. Louis, after the capture of Fort Henry?" Stephen smiled. "Very well, General," he replied, General Sherman leaned forward. "And do you remember I said to you, 'Brice, when you get ready to come into this war, let me know.' Why didn't you do it?" Stephen thought a minute. Then he said gravely, but with just a suspicion of humor about his mouth:-- "General, if I had done that, you wouldn't be here in my tent to-day." Like lightning the General was on his feet, his hand on Stephen's shoulder. "By gad, sir," he cried, delighted, "so I wouldn't." CHAPTER VIII A STRANGE MEETING The story of the capture of Vicksburg is the old, old story of failure turned into success, by which man is made immortal. It involves the history of a general who never retraced his steps, who cared neither for mugwump murmurs nor political cabals, who took both blame and praise with equanimity. Through month after month of discouragement, and work gone for naught, and fever and death, his eyes never left his goal. And by grace of the wisdom of that President who himself knew sorrow and suffering and defeat and unjust censure, General Grant won. Boldness did it. The canal abandoned, one red night fleet and transports swept around the bend and passed the city's heights, on a red river. The Parrotts and the Dahlgrens roared, and the high bluffs flung out the sound over the empty swamp land. Then there came the landing below, and the cutting loose from a base --unheard of. Corps behind cursed corps ahead for sweeping the country clear of forage. Battles were fought. Confederate generals in Mississippi were bewildered.