Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 122: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BERTHA AND THE MAJOR. 115 so Iam,’’ replied the Confederate officer, no other than Major de Banyan, whom we have lost sight of since that fearful railroad accident during the first few weeks of the war. ‘‘No more so than we, who have, indeed, suffered heavily.’ “Raith, thin, dic it be asking too much for the least bit of refreshment. Sure it’s a hot day, so it is, and I’m that lagged that the wing bone of a fowl wouldn’t go amiss. ‘*Please walk in, ae we will do our best for you, sir.’? “Oh, major,’? whispered the officer to himself, ‘‘what a boy ye are among the ladies. Sure, this one’s a charmer. ’’ Bertha took him into the cool dining-room, through the open windows of which came the sweet smell of fragrant flowers. — ‘Did you catch the name of the officer who com- manded the Yankee divils we scattered from here just now ?”’ ‘“Captain Chetwood, I believe.”’ “Oh, indeed; faith, I thought it was that rascal they call ‘‘Loyal Mose.’’ It’s him we’re in search of.’’ ~ Bertha began to feel uneasy. 4 ‘What will be his fate if you take him ?”’ “Death, sure—the death of a traitor. Faith, me orders are to hang him higher than Haman of old.” ‘Ts he such a terrible fellow ?’’ she said, spreading out the hasty repast on the table, which the major eyed with avidity. ‘Ts it possible ye haven’t heard of this desperate rascal ?”? ‘Oh, yes—but I am sure he isn’t as bad as he’s painted. ’’ ‘Raith, he’s twice as bad, and divil a lie am I tell- ing you,” said Major de Banyan, with his mouth ‘full. | €o “comicbooks