Immediately he regretted his last remark, as her eyes widened with

fear.

"But, of course there won't be another retreat," he added hastily.

"The lines around Kennesaw Mountain are impregnable. The batteries

are planted all up the mountain sides and they command the roads,

and the Yankees can't possibly get by."

But Scarlett saw him drop his eyes before the lazy, penetrating

look Rhett gave him, and she was frightened. She remembered

Rhett's remark: "When the Yankees push him out of the mountains

and onto the flatter land, he'll be butchered."

"Oh, Captain, do you think--"

"Why, of course not! Don't fret your mind one minute. Old Joe

just believes in taking precautions. That's the only reason we're

digging more entrenchments. . . . But I must be going now. It's

been pleasant, talking to you. . . . Say good-by to your mistress,

boys, and let's get going."

"Good-by, boys. Now, if you get sick or hurt or in trouble, let me

know. I live right down Peachtree Street, down there in almost the

last house at the end of town. Wait a minute--" She fumbled in

her reticule. "Oh, dear, I haven't a cent. Rhett, give me a few

shinplasters. Here, Big Sam, buy some tobacco for yourself and the

boys. And be good and do what Captain Randall tells you."

The straggling line re-formed, the dust arose again in a red cloud

as they moved off and Big Sam started up the singing again.

"Go do-ow, Mos-es! Waaa-ay, do-own, in Eeejup laa-an!

An' te-el O-le Faa-ro-o

Ter let mah--peee-pul go!"

"Rhett, Captain Randall was lying to me, just like all the men do--

trying to keep the truth from us women for fear we'll faint. Or

was he lying? Oh, Rhett, if there's no danger, why are they

digging these new breastworks? Is the army so short of men they've

got to use darkies?"

Rhett clucked to the mare.

"The army is damned short of men. Why else would the Home Guard be

called out? And as for the entrenchments, well, fortifications are

supposed to be of some value in case of a siege. The General is

preparing to make his final stand here."

"A siege! Oh, turn the horse around. I'm going home, back home to

Tara, right away."

"What ails you?"

"A siege! Name of God, a siege! I've heard about sieges! Pa was

In one or maybe it was his Pa, and Pa told me--"

"What siege?"

"The siege at Drogheda when Cromwell had the Irish, and they didn't

have anything to eat and Pa said they starved and died in the

streets and finally they ate all the cats and rats and even things

like cockroaches. And he said they ate each other too, before they

surrendered, though I never did know whether to believe that or

not. And when Cromwell took the town all the women were-- A

siege! Mother of God!"

"You are the most barbarously ignorant young person I ever saw.

Drogheda was in sixteen hundred and something and Mr. O'Hara

couldn't possibly have been alive then. Besides, Sherman isn't

Cromwell."

"No, but he's worse! They say--"

"And as for the exotic viands the Irish ate at the siege--

personally I'd as soon eat a nice juicy rat as some of the victuals

they've been serving me recently at the hotel. I think I shall

have to go back to Richmond. They have good food there, if you

have the money to pay for it." His eyes mocked the fear in her

face.

Annoyed that she had shown her trepidation, she cried: "I don't

see why you've stayed here this long! All you think about is being

comfortable and eating and--and things like that."

"I know no more pleasant way to pass the time than in eating and

er--things like that," he said. "And as for why I stay here--well,