But
whom have we here? Your name is not mentioned in the pass!"
"No, sir," said the Skinner, lifting his hat with humility. "I have been
a poor, deluded man, who has been serving in the rebel army; but, thank
God, I've lived to see the error of my ways, and am now come to make
reparation, by enlisting under the Lord's anointed."
"Umph! a deserter--a Skinner, I'll swear, wanting to turn Cowboy! In the
last brush I had with the scoundrels, I could hardly tell my own men
from the enemy. We are not over well supplied with coats, and as for
countenances, the rascals change sides so often, that you may as well
count their faces for nothing; but trudge on, we will contrive to make
use of you, sooner or later."
Ungracious as was this reception, if you could judge of the Skinner's
feelings from his manner, it nevertheless delighted him. He moved with
alacrity towards the city, and really was so happy to escape the brutal
looks and frightful manner of his interrogator, as to lose sight of all
other considerations. But the man who performed the functions of orderly
in the irregular troop, rode up to the side of his commander, and
commenced a close and apparently a confidential discourse with his
principal. They spoke in whispers, and cast frequent and searching
glances at the Skinner, until the fellow began to think himself an
object of more than common attention.
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