"Well, throw me my cap," said Frank; "I don't want to trade."
"We will return your hat, and give you a big chew of tobacco to boot," said the lieutenant.
"That's a bargain," said the rebel. "Let's have it."
"We are not doing a credit business on this side of the house," answered Frank. "You throw over my cap first."
"You're sure you don't intend to swindle a fellow? Upon your honor, now."
"Try me and see," replied Frank, with a laugh.
"Here you are, then;" and the missing cap was thrown into the rifle-pit, and a soldier restored it to its owner. It was rather the worse for its short sojourn in the rebel hands, for there was a bayonet hole clear through it.
"Say, you rebel," exclaimed Frank, "why didn't you tell me that you had stuck a bayonet into my cap?"
"Couldn't help it, Yank," was the answer. "Come now, I've filled my part of the contract, so live up to your promise. Remember, you said honor bright."
"Well here's your hat," replied Frank; and he threw the article in question over to its rebel owner.
"And here's your tobacco, Johnny," chimed in a soldier, who cut off a huge piece of the weed, and threw it after the hat.
"Yank, you're a gentleman," said the rebel, speaking in a thick tone, which showed that the much coveted article had already found its way into his mouth. "If I've got any thing you want, just say so, and you can have it; any thing except my weapons."
Frank, who was so much amused at what had just taken place that he laughed until his jaws ached, returned his mutilated cap to his head, and, in company with the lieutenant, continued his ramble among the rifle-pits, the latter explaining the operations of the siege, and the various incidents that had transpired since it commenced. The rifle-pits, the entire length of General Sherman's command, were close upon those of the rebels, and the soldiers of both sides were compelled to suspend operations almost entirely. If a man raised his head to select a mark for his rifle, he would find a rebel, almost within reach, on the watch for him. The soldiers were very communicative, and all along the line Frank saw groups of men holding conversation with their invisible enemies.
After viewing the works to his satisfaction, Frank accompanied the lieutenant to his quarters--a rude hut, which had been hastily built of logs and branches, situated in a deep hollow, out of reach of the enemy's shells. Here he ate an excellent dinner, and then retraced his steps, through the rifle-pits, back to the place where his battery was to be mounted. Throwing himself upon a blanket, he slept soundly until night.