human
So you belong to the Riverlawns, Captain. What company, if I may ask?
gpt
I am captain of the fourth company, Mr. ----
human
Excuse me, I should have introduced myself and my wife. Colonel Dick Bradner, at your service.
gpt
You are not in active service, Colonel,
human
Do I look as if I was? But I have seen service, young man, having gone all through the Mexican War.
gpt
Indeed! I am glad to meet you, sir. But about the Riverlawns and Mrs. Bradner's brother--
human
I'll get there in a moment, Captain. You see I am getting old and long-winded. I used to stump the State during election time, but I'm getting so tiresome now nobody will listen to me.
gpt
I am listening, Colonel. But I have a duty to perform which must be accomplished as soon as possible.
human
I reckon I need not ask what it is. It's none of my business, of course not.
gpt
What were you going to ask me concerning our regiment?
human
I wanted to ask you if your command did not take part in an engagement at Greeger Lake, last fall?
gpt
We did.
human
What was the result of that engagement?
gpt
We took about five hundred guerillas prisoners, and--
human
Guerillas! Do you dare to call our troops--Oh! pshaw, go on,--what did you do?
gpt
We took about five hundred guerillas prisoners, and to keep them from eating up our rations, marched them back into Tennessee, where they belonged.
human
And confiscated their horses and their money?
gpt
No, we turned their horses loose; that was all. I never heard anything about any money,