"
"Ran at the first fire?"
"Yas, _sah_! An' I'd a ran sooner ef I'd er known hit wuz comin'----"
Julius paused and broke into a jolly laugh:
"Dey git one pop at me, sah, 'fore I seed what dey wuz doin'!"
The President suppressed a laugh and gazed at Julius with severity:
"That wasn't very creditable to your courage."
"Dat ain't in my line, sah,--I'se er cook."
"Have you no regard for your reputation?"
"Dat ain't nuttin' ter me, sah, 'side er life!"
"And your life is worth more than other people's?"
"Worth er lot mo' ter me, sah."
"I'm afraid they wouldn't have missed you, Julius, if you'd been
killed."
"Na, sah, but I'd a sho missed myself an' dat's de pint wid me."
The President fixed him with a comical frown:
"It's sweet and honorable to die for one's country, Julius!"
"Yassah--dat's what I hear--but I ain't fond er sweet things--I ain't
nebber hab no taste fer 'em, sah!"
"Well, it looks like I'll have to let 'em have you, Julius, for an
example. I've tried to save you--but there doesn't seem to be any thing
to take hold of. Every time I grab you, you slip right through my
fingers. I reckon they'll have to shoot you----"
The negro broke into a hearty laugh:
"G'way fum here, Mr. President! You can't fool me, sah. I sees yer
laughin' right now way back dar in yo' eyes.
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