“Yes, missy,” she said, “Cap’n Lane am a fren’ ter be proud ob.  I tinks he mus’ be like Mass’r Linkum hisself, fer dere nebber was a man more braver and more kinder.  Now I’se gwine ter tell yer what happen all that drefful night, an’ Zeb will put in his word ’bout what he knows.  While de cap’n was a-speakin’ to de young ladies, de missus jes’ lay in my arms as ef she was dead.  Missy Roberta, as she listen, stand straight and haughty, an’ give no sign she hear, but Missy S’wanee, she bow and say, ‘Tank you, sir!’ Zeb called some ob de house-servants, an’ we carry de missus to her room, an’ de young ladies help me bring her to.  Den I stayed wid her, a-fannin’ her an’ a-cheerin’ an’ a-tellin’ her dat I knew Cap’n Lane wouldn’t let no harm come ter dem.  Now, Zeb, you seed what happen downstars.”

“Yes, mass’r an’ ladies, I kep’ my eyes out, fer I tinks my chance is come now, if eber.  Cap’n Lane soon come back an’ said to de ossifer in charge ob de pris’ners,—­an’ dere was more pris’ners bein’ brought in all de time,—­sez Cap’n Lane, ’De en’my won’t stand agin.  I’se sent Cap’n Walling in pursuit, an’ now we mus’ make prep’rations fer de night.’  Den a man dey call a sergeant, who’d been a spyin’ roun’ de kitchen, an’ lookin’ in de dinin’-room winders, come up an’ say something to Cap’n Lane; an’ he come up to de doah an’ say he like ter see one ob de ladies.  I call Missy S’wanee, an’ she come, cool an’ lady-like, an’ not a bit afeard, an’ he take off his hat to her, an’ say:—­

“’Madam, I’se sorry all dis yer happen ’bout yer house, but I’se could not help it.  Dere’s a good many woun’ed, an’ our surgeon is gwine ter treat all alike.  I’se tole dat yer had coffee a-bilin’ an’ supper was ready.  Now all I ask is, dat de woun’ed on bofe sides shall have ‘freshments fust, an’ den ef dere’s anyting lef’, I’d like my ossifers to have some supper.’  Den he kinder smile as he say, ’I know you ‘spected oder company dis ebenin’, an’ when de woun’ed is provided fer, de ossifers on your side can hab supper too.  I hab ordered de hospital made in de out-buildin’s, an’ de priv’cy ob your home shall not be ‘truded on.’

“‘Cunnel,’ say Missy S’wanee.  ‘Plain Cap’n,’ he say, interrupting—­’Cap’n Lane.’

“’Cap’n Lane, she goes on, ’I tanks you fer your courtesy, an ’sideration.  I did not ’spect it.  Your wishes shall be carried out.’  Den she says, ‘I’se’ll hab more supper pervided, an’ we’ll ‘spect you wid your ossifers;’ for she wanted ter make fren’s wid him, seein’ we was all in his po’er.  He says, ’No, madam, I’se take my supper wid my men.  I could not be an unwelcome gues’ in any house, What I asks for my ossifers, I asks as a favor; I doesn’t deman’ it.’  Den he bows an’ goes away.  Missy S’wanee, she larf—­she was allus a-larfin’ no matter what happen—­an’ she says, ’I’se’ll get eben wid him.’  Well, de cap’n goes an’ speaks to de cunnel, an’ de oder captured ossifers ob our sogers, an’ dey bow to him, an’ den dey comes