"Go 'way, I don't want no stragglers here," she cried, as one having
authority.
Leaning upon the fence, Dan placidly regarded her.
"My dear madam, you commit an error of judgment," he replied, pausing to
argue.
With the cow's udder in her hand the woman looked up from the streaming
milk.
"Well, ain't you stragglers?" she inquired.
Dan shook his head reproachfully.
"What air you, then?"
"Beggars, madam."
"I might ha' knowed it!" returned the woman, with a snort. "Well, whatever
you air, you kin jest as eas'ly keep on along that thar road. I ain't got
nothing on this place for you. Some of you broke into my smokehouse night
befo' last an' stole all the spar' ribs I'd been savin'. Was you the ones?"
"No, ma'am."
"Oh, you're all alike," protested the woman, scornfully, "an' a bigger set
o' rascals I never seed."
"Huh! Who's a rascal?" exclaimed Big Abel, angrily.
"This is the reward of doing your duty, Big Abel," remarked Dan, gravely.
"Never do it again, remember. The next time Virginia is invaded we'll sit
by the fire and warm our feet. Good morning, madam."
"Why ain't you with the army?" inquired the woman sharply, slapping the cow
upon the side as she rose from her seat and took up the milk pail. "An
officer rode by this morning an' he told me part of the army was campin'
ten miles across on the other road."
"Did he say whose division?"
"Oh, I reckon you kin fight as well under one general as another, so long
as you've got a mind to fight at all.
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