He heard a footstep near him and turned his head. “Hello, Charley,” he said. “Where you been?” Bailey’s face looked strange, The red, hot face of a hurt and angry boy, “Out hearing the Rebs,” he said. He spat on the floor And broke into long, blue curses. When he was through, “Did you hear them?” he asked. Jack Ellyat tried to remember A gnat-noise buzzing the mist. “I guess so,” he said. “What was it? Two-bottle Ed on another tear?” “Hell,” said Bailey. “They cheered. They’ve licked us again. The news just come. It happened back at Bull Run.” “You’re crazy,” said Ellyat. “That was the start of the war. “I was in that one.” “Oh, don’t be a fool,” said Bailey, “They licked us again, I tell you, the same old place. Pope’s army’s ruined.” “Who’s he?” said Ellyat wearily. “Aw, we had him out West⁠—he’s God Almighty’s pet horse, He came East and told all the papers how good he was, ‘Headquarters in the saddle’!” Bailey snickered.