"
"Surrey understands."
"Not I; your riddle's too much for me."
"Didn't you go in pursuit of a dead man?" queried Whittlesly.
"Just that."
"Did the dead man convert you?"
"No, Colonel, not precisely. And yet yes, too; that is, I suppose I
shouldn't have been converted if he hadn't died, and I gone in search of
him."
"I believe it; you're such an obstinate case that you need one raised
from the dead to have any effect on you."
"Obstinate! O, hear the pig-headed fellow talk! You're a beauty to
discourse on that point, aren't you!"
"Surrey laughed, and stopped at the call of one of his men, who hailed
him as he went by. Evidently a favorite here as in New York, in camp as
at home; for in a moment he was surrounded by the men, who crowded about
him, each with a question, or remark, to draw special attention to
himself, and a word or smile from his commander. Whatever complaint they
had to enter, or petition to make, or favor to beg, or wish to urge,
whatever help they wanted or information they desired, was brought to
him to solve or to grant, and--never being repulsed by their
officer--they speedily knew and loved their friend. Thus it was that the
two men standing at a little distance, watching the proceeding, were
greatly amused at the motley drafts made upon his attention in the shape
of tents, shoes, coats, letters to be sent or received, books borrowed
and lent, a man sick, or a chicken captured.
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