I soon saw that it was my
companion and not myself whom they were after. Presently Colonel Shook,
that being the commandant's name, went into the adjacent stockade and
the boys about began to be hearty and sympathetic. I made them a regular
Douglas Democratic speech. They brought some "red licker" and I asked
for some sugar for a toddy, not failing to cite the familiar Sut
Lovingood saying that "there were about seventeen round the door who
said they'd take sugar in their'n." The drink warmed me to my work,
making me quicker, if not bolder, in invention. Then the colonel not
reappearing as soon as I hoped he would, for all along my fear was the
wires, I went to him.

"Colonel Shook," I said, "you need not bother about this friend of
mine. He has no real idea of returning to the Confederate service. He
is teaching school over here at Beech Grove and engaged to be married to
one of the--girls. If you carry him off a prisoner he will be exchanged
back into the fighting line, and we make nothing by it. There is a hot
luncheon waiting for us at the ----'s. Leave him to me and I will be
answerable." Then I left him.

Directly he came out and said: "I may be doing wrong, and don't feel
entirely sure of my ground, but I am going to let you gentlemen go."

We thanked him and made off amid the cheery good-bys of the assembled
blue-coats.

No lunch for us. We got to our horses, rode away, and that night I
was at our rendezvous to tell the tale to those of my comrades who had
arrived before me.

Colonel Shook and I met after the war at a Grand Army reunion where I
was billed to speak and to which he introduced me, relating the incident
and saying, among other things: "I do believe that when he told me near
Wartrace that day twenty years ago that he was a good Union man he told
at least half the truth."

Chapter the Fourth

I Go to London--Am Introduced to a Notable Set--Huxley, Spencer, Mill
and Tyndall--Artemus Ward Comes to Town--The Savage Club

I

The fall of Atlanta after a siege of nearly two months was, in the
opinion of thoughtful people, the sure precursor of the fall of the
doomed Confederacy. I had an affectionate regard for General Hood, but
it was my belief that neither he nor any other soldier could save the
day, and being out of commission and having no mind for what I conceived
aimless campaigning through another winter--especially an advance into
Tennessee upon Nashville--I wrote to