The corporal glanced at the guerillas about him. "That's a fine way to treat helpless prisoners," he exclaimed, angrily. "It 'ud take a gang like you-all, who dassent fight in the open, to torture a kitten,--if yeh ever had nerve enough to catch one." Some of the guerillas looked ugly, but they dared do no more in the midst of a Confederate camp, and in great indignation the corporal marched his squad and prisoners through the doorway and into the presence of General Clark, who was seated at a table, with Yeager standing before him. "These are the prisoners, General," said Yeager, importantly. "Yes, I see," replied General Clark, dryly, as he measured the evident youth of the captives. Then he continued, addressing Wallace, "Where have you boys come from?" "From Dakota, where we have been fighting Indians," returned Wallace. The General looked disappointed. "Oh, is that it?" he asked. "You don't know much about matters around here, then?" "No, sir," Wallace answered. "We don't know anything about them. We were coming down the Missouri on a barge, straight from Dakota, when we were taken." "Well, Captain," remarked the General, leaning back in his chair and glancing at Yeager. "I don't see that your prisoners are of much value." "Mebbe not," replied Yeager, somewhat crest-fallen. "But you'd better see the feller that told me about 'em. Mebbe he knows somethin' more." General Clark sent out the corporal and in a moment the latter returned, leading Jim forcibly by the arm. The short, broad-shouldered guerilla followed them. The deck hand was trembling visibly and his eyes were wild but he was evidently striving to maintain his composure. "What do you know about these prisoners?" demanded General Clark. "I don't know nothin', General," answered Jim, his voice shaking. "Only they're Yanks, an' I thought they ought to be turned over. I didn't expect,--" he stopped short. "Didn't expect what?" "I--I didn't expect they'd be examined none, ner that I'd be dragged into it. I thought they'd--they'd be shot." "In the regular Confederate service we do not shoot prisoners of war," replied the General, turning a coldly significant glance upon Yeager. "And why," he continued, addressing Jim, "didn't you want to be dragged into it, as you say?" The deck hand's eyes wavered and he made no reply. "What are you so alarmed about?" persisted the General, leaning forward and watching him suspiciously. Al cleared his throat. "Pardon me, General Clark," said he, "but I believe you will find on inquiry that this man is a deserter from your service." Jim started as if he had been shot. "It ain't so!" he cried, wildly. "I ain't never been in the Confederate army." He made an involuntary step toward the door, but his guard pulled him back firmly. "Why do you think that?" asked General Clark of Al.