who had already levelled his pistol.

The man was evidently no coward, but when he looked into Dalton's eye,
he put the musket on the floor.

Harry, still sitting on his horse--they had ridden directly up to the
front door--saw a stalwart woman and several children hovering in the
dusk of the room behind the man. He watched the whole group, but he
left the examination to Dalton.

"I want you to tell me, Herr Schneider, the location of the Army of the
Potomac, down to the last gun and man, and what are the intentions of
General Meade," said Dalton.

The man shook his head and said, "Nein."

"Nine!" said Dalton indignantly. "General Meade has more than nine men
with him! Come, out with the story! All those tales about the rebels
coming to burn and destroy are just tales, and nothing more. You
understand what I'm saying well enough. Come, out with your
information!"

"Nein," said the German.

"All right," said Dalton in a ferocious tone. "After all, we are the
rebel ogres that you thought we were."

He turned toward his comrade and, with his back toward the German,
winked and said: