PRIVATE BERWICK,
_On detached service,
At Sanitary Camp,
Rear of General Hancock's division_.
"Who gave you this?" I asked.
"A man has just come with it--a horseman--two horsemen; no, a horseman
with two horses."
"Is he waiting?"
"Yes, sir."
I tore open the envelope. The Doctor was showing no curiosity; the
thought went through my mind that he already knew or suspected.
There were three papers,--a sketch, a sort of passport which contained
only the countersigns for the past five days, and an order from
General Hooker.
The order itself gave me no information of the reasons which had
influenced General Hooker to choose me for the work required; I could
merely assume that General Grover had nominated me. I read the order
thoroughly three times, learned by heart the countersigns, impressed the
map on my mind, and then destroyed the three papers in accordance with
an express injunction comprised in the order itself. This mental work
took some minutes, during which the Doctor sat impassive.
"Doctor, I must go."
"Well, Jones, we can finish, our talk when you return. I suppose you are
on secret service."
"Yes, Doctor,"
"Can I help in any way?"
"Please let me have that gray suit."
He brought it himself, not wishing his servant to see it.
"Anything else, Jones?"
"Yes, sir; I shall need food."
"How will you carry it?"
"In my pockets. Bread will do."
"I think I have a better thing," said he; "I have provided that you
shall not starve again, as you did on the Warwick."
He produced a wide leathern belt, made into one long bag, or pocket;
this he filled with small hard biscuits; it was just what I wanted.
"Doctor, you are the most extraordinary man in this army."
"I am not in this army," he said.
The belt was put on beneath my waistcoat.
"I'll leave my gun and everything with you, Doctor; I hope to get back
in two or three days."
"Very well, Jones. God bless you, boy," he said, and I was gone.