The youthful soldier touched his cap lightly and withdrew, and a moment later a tall, yellow mulatto entered. He looked sharply about the tent, as though fearing that some secret foe might suddenly spring upon him.
"Have a seat," said Abner, pointing to the only unoccupied camp-stool that the tent afforded.
The mulatto took the proffered seat and fixed his bright, yellowish dark eyes on the young officer.
"Well, sir, what can I do for you?" asked the captain.
"Nothin'," replied the mulatto with a grin on his shriveled yellow face.
"Then, sir, what is your business here?" asked Abner, beginning to lose patience.
"I came to tell you that I was--here," said the mulatto, with provoking coolness.
"Well, what do you propose, now that you are here?" asked Abner, smiling in spite of himself.
"Your name is Tompkins--you are Captain Abner Tompkins?" said the mulatto.
"You have a brother Oleah, who is a captain in the Confederate army, that is right across the hill here?"
"What else have you to say?" asked Abner.
"Your father is George W. Tompkins, who lives on a plantation near Snagtown?"
"Well, if you have anything to say, say it and be off," said Abner.
"Your sister as you call her, who was left at your door when a baby--"
"What of her?" cried Abner, eagerly. "Do you know anything of her?"
Abner, who had been started from his seat in his eagerness, sank back, and looked at his visitor in blank amazement. At length he said, sternly: "If you have nothing of importance to communicate, leave me. I have no time for pleasantry. From your manner I expected news--bad news--"
"And was disappointed," said the mulatto, with a smile.
"I don't mind letting you know my name. I am called Yellow Steve--got no other name. I just come to say I shall be around, and if you should ever need me it is most likely you will find me right at hand. I am everywhere. Can come as near as possible being in three places at once."
"You must be a remarkable person," said Abner.
"I have a remarkable story to tell you at some time."
"Why not tell me now? I may fall in to-morrow's fight."
"It is the waif, the foundling, you call sister, my story concerns. Some time you shall have it--not now."
The man disappeared through the door as he spoke, and, though Abner rushed out after him, he was gone.
