f being a big-headed idiot, and yet
who knew what he was about, who knew something about women, and who
could do such a job up in shape, and never let the woman know that the
general or anybody had anything to do with her arrest. The idea was
to catch her in the act of smuggling quinine through the lines to the
rebels, by the act of a fresh corporal who took the matter into his
own hands, and who claimed that the pass she had from the general was a
forgery. When the general could, when the woman was brought before
him, be indignant at the corporal for insulting a woman, and order him
arrested, and he could also go back on the woman, and have her sent
away, after which he would release the corporal, and perhaps promote
him, and all would be well. It was as pretty a scheme as I ever listened
to, and I consented to do the duty, though I wouldn't do it again for
a million dollars. The colonel told me to take four men and go to a
particular place on an unfrequented road, near a school house, and
put out a picket. The female would be along during the afternoon, on
horseback, and when she showed her pass, one of the men must take hold
of her horse and hold him, while I kicked about the pass, made her
dismount, and searched her for quinine. I turned ashy pale when the
colonel said that, and I said to him:

"Colonel, for heaven's sake don't compel me to search a woman. I have a
family at home, and they will hear of it. My political enemies will use
it against me at home when I run for office, after the war. Let me bring
her here to your tent, and you search her."

"No, that would spoil all," said the colonel. "We want her searched
right there at the little school house, by a corporal without apparent
authority, and every last quinine pill taken off of her. If she was
brought here she would cry, and rave, and we should weaken, because we
know her, and have been entertained at her house. You are supposed to
be a heartless corporal, with no sentiment, no mercy, no nothing, just
a delver after smuggled quinine. Besides, I too, have a family, and I
don't want to search no females. By the way, one of the general's start
saw her last night, and drew the cartridges from her revolver, and put
in some blank cartridges. If the worst comes, she will draw her revolver
on you, and perhaps fire at you, but there are no balls in her revolver,
so you needn't be afraid."

"But suppose she has two revolvers," I asked, "and one is loaded with
bu