Squire Fambrough insisted that his son should go to the house and look
it over for the sake of old times, and young Clopton went along to
keep Miss Julia company. O'Halloran, Kilpatrick, and the negro stayed
where they were--the white men smoking their pipes, and the negro
chewing the first "mannyfac" tobacco he had seen in many a day.
The others were not gone long. As they came back, a courier was seen
riding through the woods at break-neck speed, going from the Union
lines to those of the Confederates, and carrying a white flag.
Kilpatrick hailed him, and he drew rein long enough to cry out, as he
waved his flag:
"Lee has surrendered!"
"I was looking out for it," said Kilpatrick, "but dang me if I hadn't
ruther somebody had a-shot me right spang in the gizzard."
Lieutenant Clopton took out his pocket-knife and began to whittle a
stick. John Fambrough turned away, and his sister leaned her hands on
his shoulder and began to weep. Squire Fambrough rubbed his chin
thoughtfully and sighed.
"It had to be, father," the captain said. "It's a piece of news that
brings peace to the land."
"Oh, yes, but it leaves us flat. No money, and nothing to make a crop
with."
"I have Government bonds that will be worth a hundred thousand
dollars. The interest will keep us comfortably."
"For my part," said Clopton, "I have nothing but this free nigger."
"You b'lieve de half er dat," spoke up the free nigger. "Mistiss been
savin' her cotton craps, an' ef she got one bale she got two
hundred."
The captain figured a moment. "They will bring more than a hundred
thousand dollars."
"I have me two arrums," said O'Halloran.
"I've got a mighty fine pack of fox-hounds," remarked Kilpatrick with
real pride.
There was a pause in the conversation. In the distance could be heard
the shouting of the Union soldiers and the band with its "Yankee
Doodle, howd'y-do?" Suddenly Clopton turned to Captain Fambrough:
"I want to ask you how many troops have you got over there--fighting
men?"
The captain laughed. Then he put his hand to his mouth and said in a
stage whisper:
"Five companies."
"Well, dang my hide!" exclaimed Kilpatrick.
"What is your fighting force?" Captain Fambrough asked.
"Four companies," said Clopton.
"Think o' that, sir!" cried the Irishman; "an' me out there defendin'
meself ag'in a whole army."
"More than that," said Clopton, "our colonel is a Connecticut man."
"Shake!" the captain exclaimed. "My colonel is a Virginian."
"Lord 'a' mercy! Lord 'a' mercy!" It was Squire Fambrough who spoke.
"I'm a-goin' off some'rs an' ontangle the tangle we've got into."
Soon the small company separated. The Squire went a short distance
towards the Union army with his new-found son, who was now willing to
call himself George Somerville Fambrough. Kilpatrick and the negro
went trudging back to the Confederate camp, while Clopton lingered
awhile, saying something of great importance to the fair Julia and
himself.
His remarks and her replies were those which precede and follow both
comedy and tragedy. The thunders of war cannot drown them, nor can the
sunshine of peace render them commonplace.