"Of course," said the General, "we have to remember that Andrews was not a soldier--he was a spy, and accustomed to another way of working. Too bad.... Luck was dead against you, I'm afraid." The General leaned back again and looked at him narrowly as he told the story of his flight from the hotel and across the Tennessee. Tom continued: "I would have been captured surely if it hadn't been for a certain person who took care of me, and gave me a horse. The whole countryside was getting up to search the woods for me. They were bringing the dogs out. Then I got the horse; we cut through the fields ahead of them. That's all. I raced until I tumbled into the arms of a Sentry." The General drummed on the table with his pen, and emitted great puffs of smoke. "Hm-m-m!" he said. "Hm-m-m! Not entirely successful, but a great blow at the South all the same. I'm proud of you men, Burns--mighty proud of you." He was silent for a moment, then: "I'm going to recommend you for a commission." "Thank you, sir," gasped Tom. "You've earned it. You can go up North for training, and join us again later--a Lieutenant. How'll you like that?" "I'd like to have a commission, of course, but...." "But what?" "Why, you see, General, I'm nothing but a recruit, I've never even worn a uniform." "What?" exclaimed the General. Tom told him how he had come to take part in the raid, how he had been sworn into the service just before his departure. "Well," said the General at last, "that really makes no difference. You're officer caliber, and that's enough." "All the same, General, I think I'd like to go to my company, and get some experience. Company B is in the fight now, isn't it?" "Experience!" exclaimed the General. "Experience as a soldier, I mean," Tom replied. "Of course, of course," the General answered, laughing. "Yes, Company B is in the fight. All right, my boy, all right. We'll send you there--for experience!--and then North you go and learn the business of being an officer." "Thank you, sir." The interview was at an end. They stood up and shook hands. Tom suddenly remembered Star. "By the way, sir," he said. "A private doesn't generally have a Kentucky thoroughbred, does he?" "Not generally." "Well, sir, I have one, but I guess the time for Star and me to part has come. Will you take it? The person who gave Star to me is a good Northerner. The ... the person would be proud to have the horse ridden by a General." "Do you think that _the person_"--the General smiled--"would be any prouder to have a General riding the horse than she--pardon me!--than to have you riding it?" "I don't know, sir," replied Tom, with a grin. "But I know she'll be mighty proud just the same." "All right, my boy." The General called one of his aides and instructed him to see that Tom reached Company B. They shook hands again and Tom walked out of the headquarters building to find Bert waiting for him. The railroad raid had ended. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE