"Ah, sir, I had rather—"
"Good-by," said Louise, giving me her hand.
"Au revoir," I said quickly, and wheeled my horse and rode away.
The boats were ready. The army was waiting for the order, now expected any moment, to move. General Brown had not been at his quarters for a day.
"Judas Priest!" said D'ri, when we were alone together, "thet air gal 'd go through fire an' water fer you."
"You 're mistaken," I said.
"No, I hain't nuther," said he. "Ef I be, I 'm a reg'lar out-an'-out fool, hand over fist."
He whittled a moment thoughtfully.
"Ain' no use talkin'," he added, "I can tell a hoss from a jack-rabbit any day."
"Her father does not like me," I suggested.
"Don't hev to," said D'ri, calmly.
He cut a deep slash in the stick he held, then added: "Don't make no odds ner no diff'rence one way er t' other. I did n't like th' measles, but I hed t' hev 'em."
"He'll never permit a marriage with me," I said.
