"The Confederacy does not, and will never resort to such
methods. But you are only a boy. We can question you here, until,
through very weakness of spirit, you will be glad to tell us all you
know about Buell's or any other Northern force."
"Try me, and see," said Dick proudly.
The blue eye of the silent Johnston flickered for an instant.
"But it is true," said Beauregard, resuming his role of cross-examiner,
"that your army, considering itself secure, has not fortified against
us? It has dug no trenches, built no earthworks, thrown up no abatis!"
The boy stood silent with folded arms, and Colonel George Kenton,
standing on one side, threw his nephew a glance of sympathy, tinged
with admiration.
"Still you do not answer," continued Beauregard, and now a strong note
of irony appeared in his tone, "but perhaps it is just as well. You do
your duty to your own army, and we miss nothing. You cannot tell us
anything that we do not know already. Whatever you may know we know
more. We know tonight the condition of General Grant's army better than
General Grant himself does. We know how General Buell and his army
stand better than General Buell himself does. We know the position of
your brigades and the missing links between them better than your own
brigade commanders do."
The eyes of the Louisianian flashed, his swarthy face swelled and his
shoulders twitched. The French blood was strong within him.
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