human
My parole was out at daylight, he said, as they came up.
gpt
The sun's now nearly an hour high. I ain't obleeged to be good no more, and I could' 've drapped one o' yo'uns when y' fust turned offen the road, and got away. I s'pose I'd orter've done hit, and I'd a great mind ter, but suthin' sorter held me back. Onderstand that?
human
You'd a' bin a nice man to've shot at us when we wuz comin' to help your comrades, said Si, walking up coolly toward him, and getting near enough to prevent his leveling his gun, while he held his own ready for a quick blow with the barrel.
gpt
We needn't've come back here at all, except that we felt it right to take care o' the men that got hurt.
human
Come back to take keer o' the men that yo'uns swatted last night? said the rebel incredulously.
gpt
That haint natural. 'Taint Yankee-like. What'd yo'uns keer for 'em, 'cept to see if they'uns's dead yit, and mebbe gin 'em a prod with the bayonit to help 'em along? But they'uns's mouty nigh dead, now. They'uns can't last much longer. But I'll kill the fust one o' yo'uns that tries to prod one o' they'uns with a bayonit. Let they'uns alone. They'll soon be gone.
human
What're you talkin' about, you dumbed fool? said Si, irritably.
gpt
We haint no Injuns nor heathens, to kill wounded men. We're Injiannians and Christians, what read the Bible, and foller what it says about lovin' your enemies, and carin' for them what despitefully use you--that is, after you've downed 'em good and hard.
human
Does your Bible say that ere?
gpt
Yes, indeed.
human
Well, hit must be a new-fangled kind of a Yankee Bible. The only Bible I ever seed was a piece o' one that used t' be in dad's house, and I've done heared strangers read hit aloud hundreds o' times, and hit said nothin' like that. Hit had lots in it 'bout killin' every man and man-child, and hewin' 'em to pieces afore the Lord, but nothin' 'bout lovin' and takin' keer o' them that wuz fernest ye.
gpt
Well, it's in there, all the same, said Si impatiently,